Áine Ní Chonaill
Born
Cork, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Alma materUniversity College Cork
OrganizationImmigration Control Platform

Áine Ní Chonaill is an Irish anti-immigration activist who is the founder and public relations officer of the Immigration Control Platform (ICP).[1]

Biography

Ní Chonaill was born in Cork and studied at University College Cork.[2] She became a school teacher in County Cork, before becoming the public relations officer the Immigration Control Platform (ICP).[3] Her political background is largely unknown, but she was involved in the early days of the Progressive Democrats.[4] In 1998 she described herself as a Europhobe and a libertarian, stating "I'm the kind of person who doesn't believe in interfering with people's liberties. I won't wear a seat belt and I won't pay the fines for not wearing one. It's not the law's business to stop me going through the windscreen."[4]

Career

At the 1997 general election, Ní Chonaill stood in her native Cork South-West constituency, she received 293 votes.[5] Ní Chonaill said she started her campaign because she was concerned about the numbers of immigrants arriving in Ireland and about asylum abuse. In 1998 she was the main founder of Immigration Control Platform, an anti-immigration organisation frequently described as far-right.[6][7][8]

She stood for election again in the larger Dublin South-Central constituency at the 2002 general election, where she received 926 votes.[9]

In 2005, Ní Chonaill was accused of being a neo-nazi after being invited to UCD's Literary and Historical Society for a debate. She was later asked to not attend the UCD event, Ní Chonaill later denied the claim.[10]

Views

Ní Chonaill has, as spokesperson, repeatedly spoken out about immigration, including opposing the Charter of Fundamental Rights and asylum claims of homosexuals fleeing persecution.[11] In a statement she said: "If the choice is between having homosexuals from these countries having to act discreetly and us being swamped with alleged homosexual claims from 80 countries around the world then they will just have to act discreetly".[12]

She has described the Irish government's response to the 1990 Fajujonu court case, as a betrayal of Irish citizens.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Foxe, Ken (10 August 2008). "Exposed: The myth of Ireland's liberal asylum policy; Just 0.01% of Nigerians granted asylum in the past two years". Sunday Tribune. Ireland. pp. N01.
  2. ↑ "Immigration campaigner revokes bequest to UCC over Khan family support". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021. The founder of Immigration Control Platform [..] said she made her will in 2009, leaving almost her entire estate to the university, where the former Cork school teacher studied [..] she said she would revoke this on Monday in protest at UCC's backing of one of its students
  3. ↑ West, Patrick (17 June 2002). "The new Ireland kicks ass; The English now agonise about their identity, while the Irish, from Ryanair to the World Cup team, are supremely confident. By Patrick West". New Statesman.
  4. 1 2 "Europhobe gives birth to first group against immigrants". Irish Times. 17 January 1998.
  5. ↑ "Aine Ni Chonaill". ElectionsIreland. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ní Chonaill to debate immigration with SF councillor". Irish Examiner. 28 November 2004.
  7. ↑ O'Malley, Eoin (2008). "Why Is There No Radical Right Party In Ireland?" (PDF). Despite these features, the only generally accepted radical-right group, the Immigration Control Platform, has failed to register any notable support.
  8. ↑ McDonald, Henry (6 October 2002). "Bertie's blunders help No's". The Guardian. Far-right groups allied with the No campaign, such as the Anti-Immigration Control Platform, have argued that enlargement will lead to Ireland being 'swamped' by Poles, Czechs and Hungarians who will be entitled to work anywhere in the EU.
  9. ↑ "Dublin South Central". Elections Ireland. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  10. ↑ Donald, Niall (21 August 2005). "This is so sick...I am Appalled that My Image is Being Used by These Cowards - Actor Tony Scannell; Actor's Fury as Neo-Nazis Take his Name and Face". Sunday Mirror. pp. 4–5.
  11. ↑ "Lisbon Treaty referendum". The Irish Times. 1 October 2009. p. 17.
  12. ↑ Duncan, Pamela; Smyth, Jamie (12 July 2010). "Deported asylum seeker seeks judicial review". The Irish Times. p. 5. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Cottor, Neil (7 August 2004). "Great Debate Dividing Ireland.. Should we Boot Out Asylum Seekers?". The Mirror. p. 10.
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