Áine Ní Chonaill
Encyclopedia
Áine Ní Chonaill is a spokesperson for Irish anti-mass-immigration group Immigration Control Platform
(ICP).
but for the last decade or more she has been PRO for ICP. Her political background is largely unknown but she was involved in the early days of the Progressive Democrats
. Aine Ni Chonaill said she started her campaign because she was concerned about the numbers of immigrants arriving in Ireland and about asylum abuse.
- Excessive Immigration is not beneficial for Ireland
- In many cases immigrants are abusing the Asylum and Student Visa systems to gain entry to Ireland
- No consultation about Immigration has ever occurred
- Ireland is a "soft-touch" for immigrants
- Ireland accepts a disproportionate number of immigrants
Ní Chonaill she stood in her native Cork South West
constituency and received 293 votes. This was followed up Dublin South Central
constituency where it was hoped visibly larger concentrations of migrants in City Housing or cheaper rental accommodation would excite a bigger local reaction. She received only 926 votes. It was felt by political commentators at the time that an Anti-Racist charter signed by all parties and election candidates prevented race from becoming a real political issue for the Irish electorate (one Fianna Fáil
non signatory - Noel O'Flynn
also in Cork also attracted controversy). In 2007 the ICP ran candidates in three areas with relatively high levels of immigration. These are Cork South Central
, Dublin North, and Dublin Central
. All 3 candidates lost their deposits.
The electoral strategy involves:
Immigration Control Platform
The Immigration Control Platform is an Irish political grouping, which has run candidates in the 2002 and 2007 Irish general elections...
(ICP).
Biography
Ní Chonaill is a school teacher in County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
but for the last decade or more she has been PRO for ICP. Her political background is largely unknown but she was involved in the early days of the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
. Aine Ni Chonaill said she started her campaign because she was concerned about the numbers of immigrants arriving in Ireland and about asylum abuse.
The Organisation
ICP models itself on groups like Migration Watch UK and propagates a remarkably similar message to that group. Therefore ICP emphasises the following contentious perspectives:- Excessive Immigration is not beneficial for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
- In many cases immigrants are abusing the Asylum and Student Visa systems to gain entry to Ireland
- No consultation about Immigration has ever occurred
- Ireland is a "soft-touch" for immigrants
- Ireland accepts a disproportionate number of immigrants
Elections
In the 1997 general electionIrish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
Ní Chonaill she stood in her native Cork South West
Cork South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies . The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .- History and boundaries :It was...
constituency and received 293 votes. This was followed up Dublin South Central
Dublin South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency where it was hoped visibly larger concentrations of migrants in City Housing or cheaper rental accommodation would excite a bigger local reaction. She received only 926 votes. It was felt by political commentators at the time that an Anti-Racist charter signed by all parties and election candidates prevented race from becoming a real political issue for the Irish electorate (one Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
non signatory - Noel O'Flynn
Noel O'Flynn
Noel O'Flynn is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Cork North Central constituency from 1997 to 2011.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election...
also in Cork also attracted controversy). In 2007 the ICP ran candidates in three areas with relatively high levels of immigration. These are Cork South Central
Cork South Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork South–Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
, Dublin North, and Dublin Central
Dublin Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
. All 3 candidates lost their deposits.
The electoral strategy involves:
- Standing direct candidates in elections in constituencies where there are few other small/independent candidates. These constituencies are carefully chosen as they have relatively high immigrant populations.
- Call on the public to show their disapproval at the polls of candidates who have taken a stance on asylum / immigration which disagrees with ICP, especially if that candidate has had some Ministerial responsibility for Asylum or Immigration. This was done in the case of Liz O'DonnellLiz O'DonnellLiz O'Donnell is a former Irish Progressive Democrats politician. She was the Deputy Leader of the Progressive Democrats, and represented Dublin South as a Teachta Dála from 1992 to 2007....
in Dublin SouthDublin South (Dáil Éireann constituency)Dublin South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
who argued for more humane immigration policy while serving as a junior Minister.
- Highlighting perceived "soft-touch" policies on asylum / immigration in other mainstream parties. For example ICP views Sinn Féin to have a policy akin to “The more the merrier”. The strategy is to whip up working class voters who are "likely to bear the heaviest burden".