Identity Ireland
Identity Ireland Aithenteas Éire | |
---|---|
Leader | Peter O'Loughlin |
Founded | July 2015 |
Ideology |
Euroscepticism Right-wing populism Nationalism Anti-mass immigration Anti-Islamization |
Political position | Right-wing |
Address |
Identity Ireland Suite 5068, 5 Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin 2, Ireland |
Website | |
www | |
Identity Ireland is an unregistered political party in Ireland. It was launched in Dublin on 22 July 2015. Its founders are Gary Allen, Peter O'Loughlin and Alan Tighe.[1] O'Loughlin is the party's national spokesperson.[2]
Policy
Identity Ireland argues for a return to Irish sovereignty and to the Irish pound.[3] The party supports a controlled border policy in order to curtail the mass immigration that, it says, is putting strain on the Irish welfare system.[4] It also supports more careful vetting of incoming asylum seekers.[4] It supports the Irish branch of Pegida, and has joined the Fortress Europe coalition.[5] It advocates the introduction of a two strike law for serious offences, as well as the re-introduction of penal labour.[6] It supports keeping Ireland's neutrality.[7] It is in favour of Brexit.[8]
Election results
Peter O'Loughlin ran as an independent candidate in the Carlow–Kilkenny by-election in 2015 and was eliminated on the first count[9] having taken 1.4% of first-preference votes.[10] Another party member, Ted Neville, ran as an independent candidate in four previous elections in the Cork South-Central constituency.[11] He has appeared on television to discuss immigration.[12] O'Loughlin ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 Irish general election in the Cork North-Central constituency as an independent, being eliminated on the second count.[13][14]
General election results
Election | Seats won | ± | Position | First Pref votes | % | Government | Leader |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 0 / 166 |
0 | 17 | 183 | 0.0086 | Unelected | Peter O'Loughlin |
Reception
Identity Ireland has been accused of being racist. Some of its press conferences and meetings, and its launch, have been disrupted by protesters.[15][16]
However, the party claims that after its launch, membership went up by 25%, to 115 members.[3] Party leader Peter O'Loughlin was invited to speak at the first Pegida rally of 2016 in Dresden, Germany.[17] In January the party was criticized for suggesting a local Muslim community leader be tossed into the Irish Sea. It has since clarified that it did not actually advocate violence against him, but was simply concerned about his actions.[18]
See also
References
- ↑ identity ireland is launched in Dublin, July 2015. 28 July 2015 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Identity Ireland. 24 October 2015 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 "Identity Ireland sees 25% increase in membership since yesterday". newstalk.com.
- 1 2 Catherine Healy. "These men tried to launch a new party … but anti-racism protesters gate-crashed their event". TheJournal.ie.
- ↑ Roche, Barry (30 January 2016). "Anti-Islamic group Pegida Ireland to be launched at Dublin rally". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ↑ http://identityireland.org/law-order/
- ↑ "Identity Ireland's Photos - Identity Ireland | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ↑ "Identity Ireland". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
- ↑ "Sinn Féin big winners in Carlow/Kilkenny by-election".
- ↑ "FF look set for by-election win after Aylward pulls ahead to 28%".
- ↑ "ElectionsIreland.org: Ted Neville".
- ↑ Ted Neville of Identity Ireland discusses immigration on the Late Review. 30 July 2015 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "ElectionsIreland.org: 32nd Dáil - Cork North Central First Preference Votes". www.electionsireland.org. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ↑ "Cork North-Central". RTE.ie. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
- ↑ Rónán Duffy. "Gardaí probe assault at meeting of party that wants "proper border control"". TheJournal.ie.
- ↑ "Launch of controversial right wing political party descends into chaos in Dublin". Independent.ie.
- ↑ "Head of controversial Irish group addresses far-right rally in Germany". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
- ↑ "Political group Identity Ireland clarifies comments about senior Islamic figure". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.