Aontú chief, Peadar Tóibín has suggested the establishment of an “Irish Sea border for people” to apply identical passport controls to asylum seekers in Northern Ireland as those practised in Irish airports and ports. Mr. Tóibín emphasised the need for a more expedited and productive system to clearly distinguish between those in genuine need and those not, particularly in light of findings that over 80% of asylum applications in Ireland originate from the UK via Northern Ireland’s land border.
While addressing the Aontú Ardfheis in Maynooth, Tóibín urged for a respectful dialogue on immigration, highlighting the presence of unscrupulous individuals aiming to incite conflict and exploit prevailing social dissatisfaction. “We are the party that previously raised the immigration issue in Dáil. We seek a debate that is compassionate and yet sensible,” Tóibín emphasised.
Tóibín also implicated Greta Price-Martin, a cyclist who was tragically killed in a Dún Laoghaire collision, stating that she would remain in the hearts of her loved ones.
The party chief expressed criticism toward the current government’s lack of sensible approach to the issue, attributing the spread of turmoil and public dissatisfaction to certain nefarious individuals. Tóibín encouraged citizens to refrain from such disruptive actions, instead promoting peaceful and democratic solutions.
Calling for governmental focus on migration patterns, he highlighted that 80% of Ireland’s asylum seekers enter through Northern Ireland. To address this cross-border immigration conundrum, Tóibín suggested a quick and efficient system, capable of distinguishing between genuine asylum seekers and others.
He compared the current situation to the existing Irish Sea border that controls goods like sausages, a motion that the DUP did not initially approve of, but ultimately had to accept under pressures from the European Union, UK and southern Government.
Mr Tóibín, representative of Aontú, stated that a border across the Irish Sea is essential, not only in physical terms but also concerning people moving into Ireland. He explained that this mandate would allow everyone entering Ireland to be treated uniformly, similar to arrivals via Dublin, Shannon, or Knock.
The necessity for a practical resolution makes the issue urgent, and Tóibín expressed his confidence regarding the potential support from London, as the entire western world grapples with similar concerns.
Mr Tóibín disagreed with the anticipated EU migration pact that wishes to hasten processing times and obliges all participating countries to either accept a specific number of asylum seekers, contribute financially, or offer resources to fellow nations.
According to Mr Tóibín, Ireland’s sovereignty over the issue is vital. He suggested that yielding this to the European Union would be a misstep, as it could lead to EU deciding based on its needs instead of Irish interests.
Statistically, Aontú’s membership has exceeded 2,000 with a surge following recent family and care referendums. Despite the public voting overwhelmingly against both Government’s suggestions, Aontú had opposed them too.
With 63 local and European election nominees, Aontú anticipates being a key player in around two dozen constituencies. Tóibín pointed towards encouraging trends in the polls, indicating Aontú’s potential for winning several seats in the European Parliament. The latest Red C poll results show Aontú currently at a 5% lead over other parties, including People before Profit, the Green Party, and the Labour Party.
It’s indeed a striking contrast. Collectively, they possess 183 years of experience, whereas ours amounts to merely five. They have accumulated years of substantial governmental financial support, nonetheless, we haven’t received a penny. He mentioned that the party conference will primarily address everyday concerns like the escalating living costs and the acute housing problem.