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Aontú
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The party was founded by Peadar Tóibín, a <a href="/facts/Teachta_D%C3%A1la/zz84t7QC">TD</a> who resigned from <a href="/facts/Sinn_F%C3%A9in/u8zAndFX">Sinn Féin</a> on 15 November 2018 due to his anti-abortion views after opposing the <a href="/facts/Party_whip/NeRSzvmL">party whip</a> on the <a href="/facts/Health_(Regulation_of_Termination_of_Pregnancy)_Act_2018/YswJskos">Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> Tóibín began canvassing elected representatives, securing support within a week from two <a href="/facts/Local_government_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland/f6G1vkDv">local councillors in the Republic</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> Tóibín held meetings across the island addressing interested potential members. The first <a href="/facts/Local_government_in_Northern_Ireland/we797p30">Northern Ireland local councillor</a> declared on 7 January 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> As of 28 January 2019<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aont%C3%BA&action=edit">[update]</a> eight councillors had joined.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> A second councillor in Northern Ireland joined on 26 February 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p><p>The name "Aontú" was announced at a meeting in <a href="/facts/Belfast/GIhSKnIv">Belfast</a> on 28 January 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> The <i><a href="/facts/Meath_Chronicle/7l9YfKJo">Meath Chronicle</a></i> said that the announcement of the name was precipitated by its unexpected publication on the <a href="/facts/Electoral_Commission_(United_Kingdom)/TReVsE1Q">UK Electoral Commission</a> website.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> Tóibín said the party had sought registration in both jurisdictions, that "Aontú obviously means unity and our major objective is <a href="/facts/United_Ireland/PypGBm3G">the unity of Irish people north and south</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> He recalled that Belfast was the birthplace of the <a href="/facts/Society_of_United_Irishmen/ddCI20o6">United Irishmen of 1798</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> Aontú would "seek to build an all-Ireland economy to mitigate the worst effects of <a href="/facts/Brexit/M80B3fIg">Brexit</a>, economic justice for all and to protect the <a href="/facts/Pro-Life/egS0ooAG">right to life</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a> Tóibín said he was talking with Sinn Féin, <a href="/facts/Social_Democratic_and_Labour_Party/MPkwIVdH">SDLP</a>, and <a href="/facts/Independent_politician/Pzzvg0CC">independent</a> representatives in Northern Ireland,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a> and that "people from Sinn Féin, SDLP and <a href="/facts/Fianna_F%C3%A1il/xte7pcVX">Fianna Fáil</a> backgrounds would feel comfortable" in the party.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a> </p><p>Following its foundation in January of that year, Aontú contested the <a href="/facts/2019_Northern_Ireland_local_elections/5DAJX8aX">Northern Ireland local elections in May 2019</a>. The party, which nominated 16 candidates,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a> won one seat on <a href="/facts/Derry_City_and_Strabane_District_Council/ePsQeYP2">Derry and Strabane Council</a>, with its two outgoing councillors losing their seats.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a> Several months after the election, a councillor for the SDLP in Mid Ulster joined Aontú.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37"><sup>37</sup></a> Later in May 2019, the party put forward 53 candidates in the <a href="/facts/2019_Irish_local_elections/GPmwb2yd">2019 local elections in the Republic Ireland</a>, including its seven sitting councillors. Three were elected.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38"><sup>38</sup></a> Of the four Dáil by-elections held in November 2019, Aontú contested two. Finian Toomey came 7th in the <a href="/facts/2019_Cork_North-Central_by-election/jVrvAHpz">2019 Cork North-Central by-election</a> with 1,008 votes (3.9%),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39"><sup>39</sup></a> and Jim Codd came 6th in the <a href="/facts/2019_Wexford_by-election/JMmeUJcI">2019 Wexford by-election</a> with 2,102 votes (5.2%).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40"><sup>40</sup></a> Aontú contested seven seats in the <a href="/facts/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Northern_Ireland/e4LlULnq">2019 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland</a>. The party, which received 9,814 votes (1.2%), won none of these seats.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41"><sup>41</sup></a> </p><p>Aontú fielded 25 candidates in the <a href="/facts/2020_Irish_general_election/d62XFFoF">2020 Irish general election</a>, including leader Peadar Tóibín (Meath West), deputy leader Anne McCloskey (Sligo-Leitrim) and a number of sitting local councillors.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42"><sup>42</sup></a> Tóibín was the only successful candidate. As Tóibín was not invited to participate in a televised debate alongside the leaders of other parties, the party threatened a <a href="/facts/High_Court_(Ireland)/Ba3DRU0T">High Court</a> action against <a href="/facts/RT%C3%89/pTFpdrSg">RTÉ</a>. The party, however, did not proceed with the action noting that there "was not enough time to have the action heard" before the debate.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43"><sup>43</sup></a> In the <a href="/facts/2020_Seanad_election/MXmYGx94">2020 Seanad election</a>, Paul Lawless contested the <a href="/facts/Cultural_and_Educational_Panel/JeVQrluU">Cultural and Educational Panel</a> receiving 2.6% of votes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44"><sup>44</sup></a> </p><p>In September 2020, Aontú's then deputy leader Anne McCloskey came under criticism for her comments about the effectiveness of masks during the <a href="/facts/COVID-19/YsUgvsaX">COVID-19</a> pandemic, with party leader <a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a> defending her right to her view on the topic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45"><sup>45</sup></a> McCloskey stepped down as a councillor in October 2020, and was replaced by party member Emmet Doyle.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46"><sup>46</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47"><sup>47</sup></a> She was replaced as deputy leader by Denise Mullen. At the 2022 Ard Fheis, Mullen stepped down from the position of deputy leader and was replaced by Gemma Brolly, Aontú candidate for <a href="/facts/East_Londonderry_(Assembly_constituency)/3Rp6qd2W">East Londonderry</a> at the <a href="/facts/2022_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election/NB9wAxx0">May 2022 Assembly election</a>. </p><p>In November 2020, the <a href="/facts/Standards_in_Public_Office_Commission/NoLraU2J">Standards in Public Office Commission</a> announced that Aontú were one of five political parties who failed to provide them with a set of audited accounts for 2019, in breach of statutory obligations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48"><sup>48</sup></a> In response, Aontú released a statement claiming that they had submitted the account statements and apologising for the delay, citing the <a href="/facts/COVID-19_pandemic/0xTsh7Ut">COVID-19 pandemic</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:49" href="#fn:49"><sup>49</sup></a> </p><p>Mairéad Tóibín unsuccessfully contested the <a href="/facts/2021_Dublin_Bay_South_by-election/NMMEN2Cc">2021 Dublin Bay South by-election</a>, coming ninth with 740 first preference votes (2.8%).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:50" href="#fn:50"><sup>50</sup></a> </p><p>Aontú fielded 12 candidates in the <a href="/facts/2022_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election/NB9wAxx0">2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:51" href="#fn:51"><sup>51</sup></a> None of its candidates were elected, with the party coming in eighth place with 12,777 first preference votes (1.5%).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:52" href="#fn:52"><sup>52</sup></a> The party also contested the <a href="/facts/2023_Northern_Ireland_local_elections/93vPSv9r">2023 Northern Ireland local elections</a>. None of Aontú's 19 candidates were elected, with their incumbent councillor in <a href="/facts/Derry_City_and_Strabane_District_Council/ePsQeYP2">Derry City and Strabane District Council</a> losing his seat.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:53" href="#fn:53"><sup>53</sup></a> </p> <p>In 2024, the party campaigned for No votes in the <a href="/facts/2024_Irish_constitutional_referendums/SaDxKyM3">2024 Irish constitutional referendums</a>; Both referendums were overwhelmingly defeated.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:54" href="#fn:54"><sup>54</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:55" href="#fn:55"><sup>55</sup></a> Aontú later ran 66 candidates in the <a href="/facts/2024_Irish_local_elections/rNuSxb0G">2024 Irish local elections</a>, securing eight council seats. It also fielded candidates in three constituencies for the <a href="/facts/2024_European_Parliament_election/JD05mtsw">2024 European Parliament elections</a>: Peadar Tóibín in Midlands North West, Patrick Murphy in Ireland South and Aisling Considine in Dublin. None were elected.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:56" href="#fn:56"><sup>56</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:57" href="#fn:57"><sup>57</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:58" href="#fn:58"><sup>58</sup></a> Sarah Beasley also ran, unsuccessfully, as the Aontú candidate in the <a href="/facts/2024_Limerick_mayoral_election/gstD1ob4">2024 Limerick mayoral election</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:59" href="#fn:59"><sup>59</sup></a> In the <a href="/facts/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Northern_Ireland/9rvAyy1W">2024 Westminster election in Northern Ireland</a>, Aontú stood in 10 of 18 constituencies,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:60" href="#fn:60"><sup>60</sup></a> winning no seats from 7,466 votes (1.0% of the total).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:61" href="#fn:61"><sup>61</sup></a> Aontú won a second seat in the Dáil in the <a href="/facts/2024_Irish_general_election/BHmgJgRC">2024 general election</a> with <a href="/facts/Paul_Lawless_(politician)/sM6SsKuA">Paul Lawless</a> elected as a TD for <a href="/facts/Mayo_(D%C3%A1il_constituency)/UICT1y7M">Mayo</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:62" href="#fn:62"><sup>62</sup></a> </p><p>On 8 December, both Aontú TDs joined a <a href="/facts/Technical_group/bT0lCq4A">technical group</a> 'Regional Group' formed by eight independent TDs - <a href="/facts/Se%C3%A1n_Canney/eRPARpqR">Seán Canney</a>, <a href="/facts/Marian_Harkin/ER0CHXU9">Marian Harkin</a>, <a href="/facts/Barry_Heneghan/SEJA6Gdq">Barry Heneghan</a>, <a href="/facts/Noel_Grealish/D2uc7VP5">Noel Grealish</a>, <a href="/facts/Michael_Lowry_(politician)/Dxtl08dX">Michael Lowry</a>, <a href="/facts/Kevin_%22Boxer%22_Moran/8HlBw044">Kevin "Boxer" Moran</a>, <a href="/facts/Verona_Murphy/QccjKeSP">Verona Murphy</a> and <a href="/facts/Gillian_Toole/F6EMGNgu">Gillian Toole</a>; after Aontú's entrance, the group had 10 TDs in total.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:63" href="#fn:63"><sup>63</sup></a> The group intended to address regional infrastructure issues such as railway lines, as well as accelerating housing construction.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:64" href="#fn:64"><sup>64</sup></a> </p><p>In January 2025, Aontú left the Regional Group and instead joined a technical group in the Dáil with the political party <a href="/facts/Independent_Ireland/RP6uuMEz">Independent Ireland</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:65" href="#fn:65"><sup>65</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="ideology-and-positions">Ideology and positions</h2> <p>Party founder and leader Peadar Tóibín has described Aontú as left of centre economically while "<a href="/facts/Social_conservatism/96NpePX8">socially conservative</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:66" href="#fn:66"><sup>66</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:67" href="#fn:67"><sup>67</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:68" href="#fn:68"><sup>68</sup></a> In 2019, the party was described by the unionist <i><a href="/facts/The_News_Letter/fkS40Wvl">Belfast News Letter</a></i> as "<a href="/facts/Catholic_Church_in_Ireland/rIjJHmg6">Catholic</a> conservative",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:69" href="#fn:69"><sup>69</sup></a> and by <i><a href="/facts/The_Times/5BwkodnX">The Times</a></i> as "socially conservative",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:70" href="#fn:70"><sup>70</sup></a> while <a href="/facts/Harry_McGee/EAB0XcHS">Harry McGee</a> described its ideology as "rural conservatism and <a href="/facts/Traditionalist_conservatism/JwTRxNzr">traditionalism</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:71" href="#fn:71"><sup>71</sup></a> In 2020, <a href="/facts/David_Quinn_(columnist)/beUbuHAd">David Quinn</a> of <i><a href="/facts/The_Sunday_Times/15om0zLf">The Sunday Times</a></i> called Aontú "a pro-life centre-left party".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:72" href="#fn:72"><sup>72</sup></a> In 2024, <i><a href="/facts/Politico/k3kQb621">Politico</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/The_Connaught_Telegraph/3GbqYfwt">The Connaught Telegraph</a></i> described Aontú as "right wing",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:73" href="#fn:73"><sup>73</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:74" href="#fn:74"><sup>74</sup></a> and <i><a href="/facts/The_Irish_Times/dGuaCRpW">The Irish Times</a></i> said it had "positions that lean both left and right".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:75" href="#fn:75"><sup>75</sup></a> The European Center for Populism Studies described it as populist and "on the right",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:76" href="#fn:76"><sup>76</sup></a> while Eoin O'Malley, a political science professor at <a href="/facts/Dublin_City_University/B96R3Y1H">Dublin City University</a>, concurs that Aontú is populist and socially right wing, although he views their economics as left-wing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:77" href="#fn:77"><sup>77</sup></a> The <a href="/facts/Irish_Independent/xxup2k6S">Irish Independent</a> described the party as "economically left-wing, but socially conservative",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:78" href="#fn:78"><sup>78</sup></a> while political scientist Corinne Deloy wrote that Aontú is "economically positioned on the left of the political spectrum but on the right when it comes to social issues".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:79" href="#fn:79"><sup>79</sup></a> Political researchers Gilles Ivaldi and Emilia Zankina wrote that the party is left-wing populist, and rivals with <a href="/facts/Sinn_F%C3%A9in/u8zAndFX">Sinn Féin</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:80" href="#fn:80"><sup>80</sup></a> The party draws support from right-wing voters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:81" href="#fn:81"><sup>81</sup></a> </p> <h3>Social policies and civil rights</h3> <p>The party condemns "<a href="/facts/Culture_wars/3uok0f6F">culture wars</a>" and argues that they serve to distract from the issues of Irish unity and economic justice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:82" href="#fn:82"><sup>82</sup></a> In 2023, Peadar Tóibín expressed opposition to sexually explicit material being taught to children in schools.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:83" href="#fn:83"><sup>83</sup></a> Aontú opposed a 2024 proposed expansion of <a href="/facts/Hate_speech/y6Wmy5sx">hate speech</a> laws on the grounds that it amounted to <a href="/facts/Censorship/gwTgKVuv">censorship</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:84" href="#fn:84"><sup>84</sup></a> The party has supported a proposed enquiry into the Irish government's handling of the <a href="/facts/COVID-19_pandemic/0xTsh7Ut">COVID-19 pandemic</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:85" href="#fn:85"><sup>85</sup></a> In 2024, Tóibín opposed the possible extension of free <a href="/facts/Birth_control/qCzhxgH8">contraception</a> to girls aged 16 and described it as the State "giving licence to underage sexual activity" and said <a href="/facts/Minister_for_Health_(Ireland)/hDE0aKdC">Minister for Health</a> <a href="/facts/Stephen_Donnelly/X9tHdkCk">Stephen Donnelly</a> was "<a href="/facts/Virtue_signalling/90GvBQVk">virtue signalling</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:86" href="#fn:86"><sup>86</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:87" href="#fn:87"><sup>87</sup></a> </p> <h4>Abortion</h4> <p>Aontú is <a href="/facts/Anti-abortion/egS0ooAG">anti-abortion</a>, a stance which Tóibín has described as a "core value" of the party.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:88" href="#fn:88"><sup>88</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:89" href="#fn:89"><sup>89</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:90" href="#fn:90"><sup>90</sup></a> </p> <h4>LGBT+ rights</h4> <p>In 2023, Tóibín introduced a bill in the <a href="/facts/D%C3%A1il_%C3%89ireann/f1LVyjWC">Dáil Éireann</a> to prevent <a href="/facts/Transgender_female/3g9BWBmA">transgender female</a> prisoners from being placed into women's prisons,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:91" href="#fn:91"><sup>91</sup></a> and in their 2024 manifesto the party called for the repeal of the Gender Recognition Act for the same reason.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:92" href="#fn:92"><sup>92</sup></a> In 2024, <a href="/facts/Meath_County_Council/Yk2CQcg3">Meath County Councillor</a> Emer Tóibín proposed a motion calling on the <a href="/facts/Ladies%27_Gaelic_Football_Association/MPfzxsLH">LGFA</a> to reverse its transgender policy which allows transgender women and girls to play <a href="/facts/Ladies%27_Gaelic_football/xL3UwpQT">ladies' Gaelic football</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:93" href="#fn:93"><sup>93</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:94" href="#fn:94"><sup>94</sup></a> </p> <h3>Immigration and asylum policy</h3> <p>The party advocates for an immigration policy that is "stricter" and "sustainable", while also containing "compassion and common sense".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:95" href="#fn:95"><sup>95</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:96" href="#fn:96"><sup>96</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:97" href="#fn:97"><sup>97</sup></a> Tóibín stated that Ireland has a moral obligation to offer sanctuary to immigrants who flee war, famine or violence, but also argued that there should be no "orthodoxy and uniformity" on the issue.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:98" href="#fn:98"><sup>98</sup></a> In 2021, deputy leader Denise Mullen called for Ireland to offer help during the <a href="/facts/Afghan_refugees/mrNMwIvm">Afghan refugee crisis</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:99" href="#fn:99"><sup>99</sup></a> Tóibín supports an "<a href="/facts/Irish_Sea_border/QTtKUMQh">Irish Sea border</a> in terms of people", where asylum seekers who arrive in Northern Ireland would be subject to the same <a href="/facts/Passport_control/ngScQKAz">passport controls</a> as at Irish airports and ports.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:100" href="#fn:100"><sup>100</sup></a> Aontú has called for a greater level of public consultation on immigration.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:101" href="#fn:101"><sup>101</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:102" href="#fn:102"><sup>102</sup></a> </p><p>The party opposed the 2024 <a href="/facts/EU_Asylum_and_Migration_Pact/8cWcIzkh">EU Asylum and Migration Pact</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:103" href="#fn:103"><sup>103</sup></a> arguing that it would "erode the ability of domestic governments to manage their immigration systems and adapt to any changes in migration". Aontú also calls for stronger border protection and security, stating that border agencies are understaffed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:104" href="#fn:104"><sup>104</sup></a> </p><p><i><a href="/facts/The_Phoenix_(magazine)/NgE90ERA">The Phoenix</a></i> has described Tóibín and Aontú as possessing a "strong rightward stance" on immigration<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:105" href="#fn:105"><sup>105</sup></a> while Gerald Howlin of the <i><a href="/facts/Irish_Examiner/EfBW0uA9">Irish Examiner</a></i> has described Tóibín's views on immigration as "<a href="/facts/Nativism_(politics)/NPcl9VjE">nativist</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:106" href="#fn:106"><sup>106</sup></a> Gilles Ivaldi and Emilia Zankina argue that the party's views on immigration make it a more conservative left-wing populist competitor with Sinn Féin.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:107" href="#fn:107"><sup>107</sup></a> </p> <h3>European policy</h3> <p>Aontú is broadly <a href="/facts/Eurosceptic/0AQuWP5U">Eurosceptic</a>, opposing <a href="/facts/European_federalism/MfNcJ9hl">European federalism</a> and a <a href="/facts/European_army/mMaShVYG">European army</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:108" href="#fn:108"><sup>108</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:109" href="#fn:109"><sup>109</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:110" href="#fn:110"><sup>110</sup></a> It also speaks against <a href="/facts/Enlargement_of_the_European_Union/hLNe6JeA">EU enlargement</a> and criticizes the EU for being too centralized; Aontú wishes to "devolve foreign policy back to the nations states".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:111" href="#fn:111"><sup>111</sup></a> </p> <h3>Foreign policy and defence</h3> <p>The party supports <a href="/facts/Irish_neutrality/UsVfT5Vp">Irish neutrality</a> and opposes proposals by the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Ireland/7sCXlqex">Government</a> to remove the requirement of a <a href="/facts/UN_Mandate/M79K7nLj">UN mandate</a> before more than 12 members of the <a href="/facts/Defence_Forces_(Ireland)/7dxQBfa5">Defence Forces</a> can be deployed abroad.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:112" href="#fn:112"><sup>112</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:113" href="#fn:113"><sup>113</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:114" href="#fn:114"><sup>114</sup></a> The party opposes a <a href="/facts/European_Defence_Union/rDpJzIrn">European Defence Union</a> or any moves towards a <a href="/facts/Military_alliance/5yp5uf7W">military alliance</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:115" href="#fn:115"><sup>115</sup></a> </p> <h4>Israel and Palestine</h4> <p>The party supports a <a href="/facts/Two-state_solution/qVur4GnX">two-state solution</a> in the <a href="/facts/Israeli-Palestine_conflict/JU7ynqCl">Israeli-Palestine conflict</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:116" href="#fn:116"><sup>116</sup></a> The party takes a pro-Palestine stance, pledging to ban trade with the settlements of Israel, impose economic and military sanctions on Israel, and expelling the Israeli ambassador from Ireland. It also proposes conducting an ethics audit to ensure that Irish public institutions do not cooperate nor fund Israel.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:117" href="#fn:117"><sup>117</sup></a> </p> <h3>Economics</h3> <p>The party holds left-wing views on economics and climate change.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:118" href="#fn:118"><sup>118</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:119" href="#fn:119"><sup>119</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:120" href="#fn:120"><sup>120</sup></a> According to Eoin O'Malley, the party shares the economic positions of Sinn Féin, and places focus on economic justice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:121" href="#fn:121"><sup>121</sup></a> Aontú also strongly supports economic welfare.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:122" href="#fn:122"><sup>122</sup></a> As of early 2020, the party's published policies included proposals for a <a href="/facts/United_Ireland/PypGBm3G">united Ireland</a>, a referendum on a "right to <a href="/facts/Collective_bargaining/7DzIwUzy">collective bargaining</a> and trade union membership",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:123" href="#fn:123"><sup>123</sup></a> an end to <a href="/facts/Zero_hours_contracts/GHd4ylCy">zero hours contracts</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:124" href="#fn:124"><sup>124</sup></a> and increased state spending on public housing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:125" href="#fn:125"><sup>125</sup></a> Aontú also proposes reforming the Irish healthcare system into a state-paid one, where the state will cover the operations, treatments and consultations received by Irish patients.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:126" href="#fn:126"><sup>126</sup></a> Their site states Ireland should model itself on the "<a href="/facts/Nordic_model/kbg4raRK">best practice in Scandinavian countries</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:127" href="#fn:127"><sup>127</sup></a> Tóibín stressed the importance of economic issues, stating that one "cannot be a left-wing political party and allow for your communities to slide into poverty and sit by idly by".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:128" href="#fn:128"><sup>128</sup></a> </p><p>In their 2021 budget submission, the party called on changes to the state pension scheme, reducing Leap Card fares and increasing the Banking Levy.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:129" href="#fn:129"><sup>129</sup></a> Aontú supports the building of a "new international city" in a different part of the country from <a href="/facts/Dublin/Fv8ezm8a">Dublin</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:130" href="#fn:130"><sup>130</sup></a> The party also adheres to <a href="/facts/Protectionism/jSa6HEAg">protectionism</a> and opposes trade deals such as the <a href="/facts/EU%E2%80%93Mercosur_Association_Agreement/WeSN33JC">EU–Mercosur Association Agreement</a>. It also offers to address housing shortage by taking the power to build social homes to public service, limiting the power of corporations in the housing industry and cracking down on "vulture funds".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:131" href="#fn:131"><sup>131</sup></a> Aontú also proposes linking pensions to the rate of inflation, and extending tax credit increases for workers to pensioners as well. It advocates a reformed social insurance model that would ensure a right to decent income during retirement and prevent workers from losing pension rights because of changing market conditions. The party also proposes reinstating the occupational supplementary pension for workers such as the <a href="/facts/Defence_Forces_(Ireland)/7dxQBfa5">Defence Forces</a> members.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:132" href="#fn:132"><sup>132</sup></a> </p> <h3>Irish republicanism</h3> <p>While Aontú was founded in a split from <a href="/facts/Sinn_F%C3%A9in/u8zAndFX">Sinn Féin</a>, Aontú members and elected representatives come from different political backgrounds: two councillors were former members of the <a href="/facts/Social_Democratic_and_Labour_Party/MPkwIVdH">Social Democratic and Labour Party</a>, one councillor was a former member of <a href="/facts/Fianna_F%C3%A1il/xte7pcVX">Fianna Fáil</a>, and two other councillors never held political office prior to joining Aontú.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:133" href="#fn:133"><sup>133</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:134" href="#fn:134"><sup>134</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:135" href="#fn:135"><sup>135</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:136" href="#fn:136"><sup>136</sup></a> The party retains the ideology of <a href="/facts/Irish_republicanism/r260ddGy">Irish republicanism</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:137" href="#fn:137"><sup>137</sup></a> and related policies; for example, Aontú maintains a policy of <a href="/facts/Abstentionism/nnauPba3">abstentionism</a>, which means that while it runs candidates in Northern Ireland in British general elections, should an Aontú candidate be elected, they would not take up their seat in the British parliament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:138" href="#fn:138"><sup>138</sup></a> </p><p><i><a href="/facts/The_Irish_Catholic/KfTTMc3w">The Irish Catholic</a></i> editor Michael Kelly believed the party could "capitalise" on the "abandon[ment] [of] many of the values that were key to a largely Catholic electorate in the North" by "the traditional parties of <a href="/facts/Irish_nationalism/fFyubXhY">nationalism</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:139" href="#fn:139"><sup>139</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="representatives">Representatives</h2> <p>The party has three representatives, TDs <a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a> and <a href="/facts/Paul_Lawless_(politician)/sM6SsKuA">Paul Lawless</a> (in <a href="/facts/D%C3%A1il_%C3%89ireann/f1LVyjWC">Dáil Éireann</a>) and <a href="/facts/Sarah_O%27Reilly/HnL3mXEI">Sarah O'Reilly</a> (in <a href="/facts/Seanad_%C3%89ireann/3cjluYBK">Seanad Éireann</a>), at national level. </p><p>As of June 2024, Aontú has eight sitting representatives at local level, all of whom are <a href="/facts/Local_government_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland/f6G1vkDv">county councillors in the Republic of Ireland</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:140" href="#fn:140"><sup>140</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:141" href="#fn:141"><sup>141</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="leadership">Leadership</h2> <h3>Party leader</h3> <p>The following are the terms of office as party leader. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Portrait</th><th>Period</th><th>Constituency</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td></td><td>2019 – present</td><td><a href="/facts/Meath_West_(D%C3%A1il_constituency)/KSuu8ngp">Meath West</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="election-results">Election results</h2> <h3>Dáil Éireann</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Leader</th><th>1st prefvotes</th><th>%</th><th>Seats</th><th>±</th><th>Government</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2020_Irish_general_election/d62XFFoF">2020</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:142" href="#fn:142"><sup>142</sup></a></th><td><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td>41,575</td><td>1.9 (#8)</td><td>1 / 160</td><td></td><td>Opposition</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2024_Irish_general_election/BHmgJgRC">2024</a></th><td><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td>86,134</td><td>3.9 (#6)</td><td>2 / 174</td><td> 1</td><td>Opposition</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Seanad Éireann</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Leader in Seanad</th><th>Seats</th><th>±</th><th>Government</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2020_Seanad_election/MXmYGx94">2020</a></th><td>—</td><td>0 / 60</td><td></td><td>No seats</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2025_Seanad_election/4cghjBTW">2025</a></th><td><a href="/facts/Sarah_O%27Reilly/HnL3mXEI">Sarah O'Reilly</a></td><td>1 / 60</td><td> 1</td><td>Opposition</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Northern Ireland Assembly</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Leader</th><th>1st prefvotes</th><th>%</th><th>Seats</th><th>±</th><th>Government</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2022_Northern_Ireland_Assembly_election/NB9wAxx0">2022</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:143" href="#fn:143"><sup>143</sup></a></th><td><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td>12,777</td><td>1.5 (#8)</td><td>0 / 90</td><td></td><td>No seats</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Westminster elections</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Election</th><th rowspan="2">Leader</th><th rowspan="2">Votes</th><th colspan="2">%</th><th rowspan="2">Seats (in NI)</th><th rowspan="2">±</th></tr><tr><th>NI</th><th>UK</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election/1ustxDDe">2019</a></th><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td>9,814</td><td>1.2 (#6)</td><td><0.1</td><td>0 / 18</td><td></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election/MEpNJrYu">2024</a></th><td>7,466</td><td>1.0 (#9)</td><td><0.1</td><td>0 / 18</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Local elections</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Country</th><th>Seatscontested</th><th>1st prefvotes</th><th>%</th><th>Seats</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2019_Northern_Ireland_local_elections/5DAJX8aX">2019</a></th><td>Northern Ireland</td><td>16</td><td>7,459</td><td>1.1</td><td>1 / 462</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2019_Irish_local_elections/GPmwb2yd">2019</a></th><td>Republic of Ireland</td><td>51</td><td>25,660</td><td>1.5</td><td>3 / 949</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2023_Northern_Ireland_local_elections/93vPSv9r">2023</a></th><td>Northern Ireland</td><td>19</td><td>6,771</td><td>0.9</td><td>0 / 462</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2024_Irish_local_elections/rNuSxb0G">2024</a></th><td>Republic of Ireland</td><td>66</td><td>39,461</td><td>2.1</td><td>8 / 949</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>European Parliament</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Leader</th><th>1st prefVotes</th><th>%</th><th>Seats</th><th>+/−</th><th>EP Group</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2024_European_Parliament_election_in_Ireland/JD05mtsw">2024</a></th><td><a href="/facts/Peadar_T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/R0X8c83w">Peadar Tóibín</a></td><td>65,559</td><td>3.76 (#8)</td><td>0 / 14</td><td>New</td><td>−</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="gra-aont">Ógra Aontú</h2> <p>Aontú's youth branch, Ógra Aontú, was formed in May 2020. Membership of the branch is open to Aontú members aged between 16 and 30.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:144" href="#fn:144"><sup>144</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="footnotes">Footnotes</h2> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://aontu.ie/">Official website</a> </li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"aontú [Pronunciation]". Teanglann. Foras na Gaeilge. 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2019. <a href="https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/aont%C3%BA" target="_blank">https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/aont%C3%BA</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>The Irish word aontú is the verbal noun of aontaigh, meaning "unite", "agree", "assent". The logo also colours the letters tú separately, forming the Irish word for "you" (singular).[10][11][12] Party founder Peadar Tóibín when announcing its name said it means "unity and consent".[13][14] <a href="/wiki/Irish_language" target="_blank">/wiki/Irish_language</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Hilliard, Mark (26 April 2024). "Do Peadar Tóibín and Aontú have their finger on the public pulse?". The Irish Times. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2024. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/do-peadar-toibin-and-aontu-have-their-finger-on-the-public-pulse/" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/do-peadar-toibin-and-aontu-have-their-finger-on-the-public-pulse/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Ireland". Europe Elects. 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2024. <a href="https://europeelects.eu/ireland/" target="_blank">https://europeelects.eu/ireland/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>O'Carroll, Lisa (30 November 2024). "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in pole position to form new Irish government". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2024. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/30/fianna-fail-fine-gael-irish-government-sinn-fein-coalition" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/30/fianna-fail-fine-gael-irish-government-sinn-fein-coalition</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Breen, Suzanne (9 November 2019). "General Election 2019: Republican pro-life party Aontu out to give SF bloody nose in a number of seats". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024. <a href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/general-election-2019-republican-pro-life-party-aontu-out-to-give-sf-bloody-nose-in-a-number-of-seats/38674980.html" target="_blank">https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/general-election-2019-republican-pro-life-party-aontu-out-to-give-sf-bloody-nose-in-a-number-of-seats/38674980.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Electoral Commission - Political party registration - Current applications". Electoral Commission. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019. <a href="https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/political-party-registration/pending-registration-applications/current-applications" target="_blank">https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/political-party-registration/pending-registration-applications/current-applications</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Doyle, Kevin (28 January 2019). "Peadar Toibin reveals his new political party will be named Aontú". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019. <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/peadar-toibin-reveals-his-new-political-party-will-be-named-aont-37759442.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/peadar-toibin-reveals-his-new-political-party-will-be-named-aont-37759442.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>O'Malley, Eoin (16 June 2019). "Eoin O'Malley: Sound the death knell for pro-life Renua". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019. <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/eoin-o-malley-sound-the-death-knell-for-pro-life-renua-nq5l7pgr0" target="_blank">https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/eoin-o-malley-sound-the-death-knell-for-pro-life-renua-nq5l7pgr0</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Bray, Jennifer (28 January 2019). "Peadar Tóibín to name new political party 'Aontú'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/peadar-t%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn-to-name-new-political-party-aont%C3%BA-1.3773803" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/peadar-t%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn-to-name-new-political-party-aont%C3%BA-1.3773803</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>O’Malley, Eoin (29 October 2024). Gilles Ivaldi; Emilia Zankina (eds.). "Ireland After the 2024 EP Elections: The Centre Holds … Just About". In: 2024 EP Elections under the Shadow of Rising Populism. (eds). European Center for Populism Studies. doi:10.55271/rp0074. While it would be hard to identify these parties on a left–right spectrum, another populist party that emerged and was sometimes accused of being 'far right' is more clearly on the left economically. Aontú emerged as a splinter group from Sinn Féin over the party's stance on abortion. The leader of Aontú was a Sinn Féin TD who was disciplined for opposing the repeal of a provision in the Irish constitution banning abortion. The party shares Sinn Féin's focus on a united Ireland and left-leaning economic policies, which it styles as 'economic justice'. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Murphy, Colin (24 November 2024). "Colin Murphy: Could an alliance of the Greens, Labour and the Soc Dems change Irish politics forever?". Irish Independent. After all, Micheál Martin has described Fianna Fáil as being "a bit to the left", and Aontú is economically left-wing, but socially conservative. <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Deloy, Corinne (19 November 2024). "Prime Minister Simon Harris' Fine Gael is the favourite in Ireland's snap general election". The European Elections Monitor. The Robert Schuman Foundation. Aontu, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland party formed from a split from Sinn Fein, created in 2019 by Peadar Toibin, who has led it ever since. The party is economically positioned on the left of the political spectrum but on the right when it comes to social issues, and has 1 elected member; <a href="https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/6385-prime-minister-simon-harris-fine-gael-is-the-favourite-in-ireland-s-snap-general-election" target="_blank">https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/6385-prime-minister-simon-harris-fine-gael-is-the-favourite-in-ireland-s-snap-general-election</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Kenny, Ellen (9 June 2024). "Aontú 'puts equality at the centre of politics'". Newstalk. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. 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The main opposition will be provided by a populist left party in the form of Sinn Fein, plus Labour, the Social Democrats, a pro-life centre-left party in the shape of Aontu, and the far left. <a href="/wiki/David_Quinn_(columnist)" target="_blank">/wiki/David_Quinn_(columnist)</a> <a href="#fnref:72" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:73"><p>Pogatchnik, Shawn (5 January 2024). "Sinn Féin walks immigration tightrope toward power in Ireland". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024. Tapping into those sentiments are a disparate array of right wing upstarts. Among them is Aontú (Unity), a party founded by ex-Sinn Féin lawmaker Peadar Tóibín, and the Rural Independents, a loose grouping of lawmakers including another Sinn Féin defector, Carol Nolan. <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/sinn-fein-dublin-mary-lou-mcdonald-towards-power-in-ireland/" target="_blank">https://www.politico.eu/article/sinn-fein-dublin-mary-lou-mcdonald-towards-power-in-ireland/</a> <a href="#fnref:73" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:74"><p>Rowland, Caoimhín (23 June 2024). "A Mayo View: People want positivity from their politicians". Connaught Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024. The growth of right-wing smaller parties such as Aontú and Independent Ireland, who have shared increasing spoils from disenchanted FFG voters, will serve to benefit the status quo. <a href="https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2024/06/23/a-mayo-view-people-want-positivity-from-their-politicians/" target="_blank">https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2024/06/23/a-mayo-view-people-want-positivity-from-their-politicians/</a> <a href="#fnref:74" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:75"><p>Bray, Jennifer (27 April 2024). "Aontú may be 'listening' but party is squeezed on all sides". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024. The second is that Aontú has struggled to make a national breakthrough and will continue to be squeezed on all sides, having, as it does, positions that lean both left and right. <a href="https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/</a> <a href="#fnref:75" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:76"><p>Pretorius, Christo (4 September 2024). "Populism in Ireland: Sinn Féin and the Alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's Political Dominance". ECPS. Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. 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The leader of Aontú was a Sinn Féin TD who was disciplined for opposing the repeal of a provision in the Irish constitution banning abortion. The party shares Sinn Féin's focus on a united Ireland and left-leaning economic policies, which it styles as 'economic justice'. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/</a> <a href="#fnref:77" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:78"><p>Murphy, Colin (24 November 2024). "Colin Murphy: Could an alliance of the Greens, Labour and the Soc Dems change Irish politics forever?". Irish Independent. After all, Micheál Martin has described Fianna Fáil as being "a bit to the left", and Aontú is economically left-wing, but socially conservative. <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html</a> <a href="#fnref:78" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:79"><p>Deloy, Corinne (19 November 2024). "Prime Minister Simon Harris' Fine Gael is the favourite in Ireland's snap general election". The European Elections Monitor. The Robert Schuman Foundation. Aontu, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland party formed from a split from Sinn Fein, created in 2019 by Peadar Toibin, who has led it ever since. 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The leader of Aontú was a Sinn Féin TD who was disciplined for opposing the repeal of a provision in the Irish constitution banning abortion. The party shares Sinn Féin's focus on a united Ireland and left-leaning economic policies, which it styles as 'economic justice'. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/</a> <a href="#fnref:81" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:82"><p>Leahy, Pat (16 May 2019). "Aontú making a place for itself in Irish politics, says Tóibín". The Irish Times. 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"Aontú 'only party that will defend right to life'". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48106253" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48106253</a> <a href="#fnref:90" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:91"><p>"Letterkenny Aontú rep Mary T Sweeney backs Bill to prevent male-born criminals being placed into women's prisons". Donegal Live. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024. <a href="https://www.donegallive.ie/news/local-news/1233522/letterkenny-aontu-rep-mary-t-sweeney-backs-bill-to-prevent-male-born-criminals-being-placed-into-womens-prisons.html" target="_blank">https://www.donegallive.ie/news/local-news/1233522/letterkenny-aontu-rep-mary-t-sweeney-backs-bill-to-prevent-male-born-criminals-being-placed-into-womens-prisons.html</a> <a href="#fnref:91" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:92"><p>"Manifesto General Election 2024 Part 2" (PDF). Aontú. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025. Aontú seeks to repeal the Gender Recognition Act to end the shocking government practice of male born sex offenders being placed in women's prisons. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250118210724/https://aontu.ie/styles/kcfinder/upload/images/Manifestop2.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20250118210724/https://aontu.ie/styles/kcfinder/upload/images/Manifestop2.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:92" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:93"><p>Murphy, Killian (4 March 2025). "Motion to ask LGFA to reverse their transgender policy rejected at Meath County Council's monthly meeting". LMFM. Archived from the original on 4 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025. <a href="https://www.lmfm.ie/news/lmfm-news/motion-to-ask-lgfa-to-reverse-their-transgender-policy-rejected-at-meath-county-councils-monthly-meeting/" target="_blank">https://www.lmfm.ie/news/lmfm-news/motion-to-ask-lgfa-to-reverse-their-transgender-policy-rejected-at-meath-county-councils-monthly-meeting/</a> <a href="#fnref:93" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:94"><p>Gleeson, Colin (19 February 2023). "Transgender players given green light by Ladies Gaelic Football Association". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025. The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) has introduced a new policy that allows transgender women and girls to play the sport except in circumstances where an "unacceptable risk" arises. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/02/19/transgender-players-given-green-light-by-ladies-gaelic-football-association/" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/02/19/transgender-players-given-green-light-by-ladies-gaelic-football-association/</a> <a href="#fnref:94" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:95"><p>Bray, Jennifer (27 April 2024). "Aontú may be 'listening' but party is squeezed on all sides". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024. The second is that Aontú has struggled to make a national breakthrough and will continue to be squeezed on all sides, having, as it does, positions that lean both left and right. <a href="https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/</a> <a href="#fnref:95" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:96"><p>Weeks, Liam (14 April 2019). "Rising immigration concerns won't open the door for Aontu". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022. <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/rising-immigration-concerns-wont-open-the-door-for-aontu-38012822.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/rising-immigration-concerns-wont-open-the-door-for-aontu-38012822.html</a> <a href="#fnref:96" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:97"><p>"Immigration". Aontú. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022. <a href="https://aontu.ie/immigration" target="_blank">https://aontu.ie/immigration</a> <a href="#fnref:97" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:98"><p>Leahy, Pat (16 May 2019). "Aontú making a place for itself in Irish politics, says Tóibín". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/aontu-making-a-place-for-itself-in-irish-politics-says-toibin-1.3894746" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/aontu-making-a-place-for-itself-in-irish-politics-says-toibin-1.3894746</a> <a href="#fnref:98" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:99"><p>Young, Connla (19 August 2021). "North ready to do what it can for Afghan refugees". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022. <a href="http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/08/19/news/north-ready-to-do-what-it-can-for-afghan-refugees-2422165/" target="_blank">http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/08/19/news/north-ready-to-do-what-it-can-for-afghan-refugees-2422165/</a> <a href="#fnref:99" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:100"><p>Bray, Jennifer (27 April 2024). "Aontú may be 'listening' but party is squeezed on all sides". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024. The second is that Aontú has struggled to make a national breakthrough and will continue to be squeezed on all sides, having, as it does, positions that lean both left and right. <a href="https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/</a> <a href="#fnref:100" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:101"><p>Bray, Jennifer (27 April 2024). "Aontú may be 'listening' but party is squeezed on all sides". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024. The second is that Aontú has struggled to make a national breakthrough and will continue to be squeezed on all sides, having, as it does, positions that lean both left and right. <a href="https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20240427165157/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/27/aontu-may-be-listening-but-party-is-squeezed-on-all-sides/</a> <a href="#fnref:101" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:102"><p>Meskill, Tommy (27 April 2024). "Aontú leader calls for 'common sense' immigration policy". RTE.ie. Retrieved 28 September 2024. <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0427/1445970-aontu-party-conference/" target="_blank">https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0427/1445970-aontu-party-conference/</a> <a href="#fnref:102" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:103"><p>McGee, Harry (4 June 2024). "Aontú calls for new border agency to oversee Ireland's migration system". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/06/04/aontu-calls-for-new-border-agency-to-oversee-irelands-migration-system/" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/06/04/aontu-calls-for-new-border-agency-to-oversee-irelands-migration-system/</a> <a href="#fnref:103" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:104"><p>"2024 General Election Manifesto Overview" (PDF). Putting Europe on Agenda. European Movement Ireland. November 2024. pp. 30, 60, 65, 70. <a href="https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:104" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:105"><p>"Profile: Peadar Tóibín". The Phoenix. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023. <a href="https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-peadar-toibin/" target="_blank">https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-peadar-toibin/</a> <a href="#fnref:105" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:106"><p>Howlin, Gerald (10 April 2019). "New politics of nativism is just the bitter defence of a few bleak acres". The Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023. <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-30916713.html" target="_blank">https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-30916713.html</a> <a href="#fnref:106" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:107"><p>Ivaldi, Gilles; Zankina, Emilia (29 October 2024). "Conclusion". In: 2024 EP Elections under the Shadow of Rising Populism. European Center for Populism Studies. doi:10.55271/rp0087. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/conclusion-for-the-report-on-2024-ep-elections-under-the-shadow-of-rising-populism/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/conclusion-for-the-report-on-2024-ep-elections-under-the-shadow-of-rising-populism/</a> <a href="#fnref:107" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:108"><p>Finn, Christina (21 November 2018). "Tóibín signs up two members to his new 'Euro-critical party' which aims to protect 'all human life'". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019. <a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/peadar-toibin-new-party-4353218-Nov2018/" target="_blank">https://www.thejournal.ie/peadar-toibin-new-party-4353218-Nov2018/</a> <a href="#fnref:108" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:109"><p>Michael Gallagher (2021). "The Results Analysed: The Definitive End of the Traditional Party System?". In Michael Gallagher; Michael Marsh; Theresa Reidy (eds.). How Ireland Voted 2020: The End of an Era. Springer Nature. p. 180. ISBN 9783030664053. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024. <a href="9783030664053" target="_blank">9783030664053</a> <a href="#fnref:109" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:110"><p>Herkman, J.; Palonen, E. (2024). Populism, Twitter and the European Public Sphere: Social Media Communication in the EP Elections 2019. Springer Nature Switzerland, Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 242. ISBN 978-3-031-41737-5. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024. <a href="978-3-031-41737-5" target="_blank">978-3-031-41737-5</a> <a href="#fnref:110" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:111"><p>"2024 General Election Manifesto Overview" (PDF). Putting Europe on Agenda. European Movement Ireland. November 2024. pp. 30, 60, 65, 70. <a href="https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:111" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:112"><p>"Government Has Declared War on Irish Neutrality - Tóibín". Aontú. 5 March 2025. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025. <a href="https://aontu.ie/government-has-declared-war-on-irish-neutrality-toibin/" target="_blank">https://aontu.ie/government-has-declared-war-on-irish-neutrality-toibin/</a> <a href="#fnref:112" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:113"><p>Mag Raollaigh, Joe (16 March 2025). "Explainer: Triple Lock or not for peacekeeping missions". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025. In this context, debate is taking place in Ireland about the future of the Triple Lock - the legislative device that, since 2001, has required a United Nations' mandate along with a Dáil and Government decision to be taken before more than 12 members of the Defence Forces are deployed on overseas missions. <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0316/1502199-triple-lock-explainer/" target="_blank">https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0316/1502199-triple-lock-explainer/</a> <a href="#fnref:113" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:114"><p>McQuinn, Cormac; O'Halloran, Marie (4 March 2025). "Cabinet signs off on proposals to scrap triple lock for troop deployments". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the triple lock is the foundation stone of Irish neutrality and "by definition, means that Ireland does not align with any existing military bloc". <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/03/04/cabinet-signs-off-on-proposals-to-scrap-triple-lock-for-troop-deployments/" target="_blank">https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/03/04/cabinet-signs-off-on-proposals-to-scrap-triple-lock-for-troop-deployments/</a> <a href="#fnref:114" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:115"><p>"Manifesto General Election 2024 Part 2" (PDF). Aontú. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025. Aontú opposes any moves towards a military alliance. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20241207023111/http://aontu.ie/styles/kcfinder/upload/images/Manifestop2.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20241207023111/http://aontu.ie/styles/kcfinder/upload/images/Manifestop2.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:115" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:116"><p>"Aontú General Election Manifesto 2024" (PDF). 2024. p. 4. We support a peaceful two-state solution in Palestine. We have met the Palestinian Ambassador and raised money for medical aid during the recent conflict and we will continue to support and end to the violence. <a href="https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/aontu/aontu_2024-07-04_ge_man.pdf" target="_blank">https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/aontu/aontu_2024-07-04_ge_man.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:116" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:117"><p>"2024 General Election Manifesto Overview" (PDF). Putting Europe on Agenda. European Movement Ireland. November 2024. pp. 30, 60, 65, 70. <a href="https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.europeanmovement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-Irish-General-Election-Manifesto-Overview.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:117" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:118"><p>Murphy, Colin (24 November 2024). "Colin Murphy: Could an alliance of the Greens, Labour and the Soc Dems change Irish politics forever?". Irish Independent. After all, Micheál Martin has described Fianna Fáil as being "a bit to the left", and Aontú is economically left-wing, but socially conservative. <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/colin-murphy-could-an-alliance-of-the-greens-labour-and-the-soc-dems-change-irish-politics-forever/a100696961.html</a> <a href="#fnref:118" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:119"><p>O’Malley, Eoin (29 October 2024). Gilles Ivaldi; Emilia Zankina (eds.). "Ireland After the 2024 EP Elections: The Centre Holds … Just About". In: 2024 EP Elections under the Shadow of Rising Populism. (eds). European Center for Populism Studies. doi:10.55271/rp0074. While it would be hard to identify these parties on a left–right spectrum, another populist party that emerged and was sometimes accused of being 'far right' is more clearly on the left economically. Aontú emerged as a splinter group from Sinn Féin over the party's stance on abortion. The leader of Aontú was a Sinn Féin TD who was disciplined for opposing the repeal of a provision in the Irish constitution banning abortion. The party shares Sinn Féin's focus on a united Ireland and left-leaning economic policies, which it styles as 'economic justice'. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/</a> <a href="#fnref:119" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:120"><p>Deloy, Corinne (19 November 2024). "Prime Minister Simon Harris' Fine Gael is the favourite in Ireland's snap general election". The European Elections Monitor. The Robert Schuman Foundation. Aontu, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland party formed from a split from Sinn Fein, created in 2019 by Peadar Toibin, who has led it ever since. The party is economically positioned on the left of the political spectrum but on the right when it comes to social issues, and has 1 elected member; <a href="https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/6385-prime-minister-simon-harris-fine-gael-is-the-favourite-in-ireland-s-snap-general-election" target="_blank">https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/6385-prime-minister-simon-harris-fine-gael-is-the-favourite-in-ireland-s-snap-general-election</a> <a href="#fnref:120" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:121"><p>O’Malley, Eoin (29 October 2024). Gilles Ivaldi; Emilia Zankina (eds.). "Ireland After the 2024 EP Elections: The Centre Holds … Just About". In: 2024 EP Elections under the Shadow of Rising Populism. (eds). European Center for Populism Studies. doi:10.55271/rp0074. While it would be hard to identify these parties on a left–right spectrum, another populist party that emerged and was sometimes accused of being 'far right' is more clearly on the left economically. Aontú emerged as a splinter group from Sinn Féin over the party's stance on abortion. The leader of Aontú was a Sinn Féin TD who was disciplined for opposing the repeal of a provision in the Irish constitution banning abortion. The party shares Sinn Féin's focus on a united Ireland and left-leaning economic policies, which it styles as 'economic justice'. <a href="https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/" target="_blank">https://www.populismstudies.org/ireland-after-the-2024-ep-elections-the-centre-holds-just-about/</a> <a href="#fnref:121" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:122"><p>Lake, Tom. "MNI Political Risk Analysis-Ireland Election Preview" (PDF). MNI. p. 3. <a href="https://media.marketnews.com/MNIPOLITICALRISK_Ireland_Election_Preview_3afea623c9.pdf" target="_blank">https://media.marketnews.com/MNIPOLITICALRISK_Ireland_Election_Preview_3afea623c9.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:122" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:123"><p>"Aontu Policy on Workers Rights". aontu.ie. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094014/https://aontu.ie/issues/workers-rights/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094014/https://aontu.ie/issues/workers-rights/</a> <a href="#fnref:123" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:124"><p>"Aontu Policy on Workers Rights". aontu.ie. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094014/https://aontu.ie/issues/workers-rights/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094014/https://aontu.ie/issues/workers-rights/</a> <a href="#fnref:124" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:125"><p>"Aontu Policy on Housing". Aontu. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020. If the state invested €2.2 billion in capital spending a year the 10,000 housing units per year objective of the Oireachtas Housing Committee could be surpassed. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094554/https://aontu.ie/issues/housing-crisis/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200209094554/https://aontu.ie/issues/housing-crisis/</a> <a href="#fnref:125" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:126"><p>"2024 General Election Manifesto Overview" (PDF). Putting Europe on Agenda. European Movement Ireland. 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