Lower immigration and swifter deportation of asylum seekers whose claims are rejected were among the election pledges made by Aontú leader Peader Tóibín when he launched the party’s immigration policy in Dublin.
Mr Tóibín said that Aontú’s tougher policies would cut the numbers of asylum seekers coming to Ireland and make sure that, if their claim failed, they would be deported as quickly as possible.
But he also said that the numbers of people coming to Ireland legally from foreign countries on work permits should fall.
He stressed that many people here on work permits were “making a very valuable contribution to Irish society”, citing the number of foreign-born people working in the health service as “the biggest example of that”.
Fine Gael’s €860m childcare plan promises extra benefit payment and 30,000 new early learning places
Withdrawal from EU military co-operation will defend Irish neutrality, says Boyd Barrett
Election 2024: Mary Lou McDonald says Sinn Féin-led government would cut rents and ban rent increases for three years
Election map explainer: how has it changed and how are counties and parties affected?
“There’s no doubt our plan is to provide help for those who really need help but in making it stricter we will see fewer people coming to the country, and that would be an important outcome of this plan,” he said.
Asked about people from foreign countries coming here on work permits, Mr Tóibín said: “There’s a physics to this. There’s a physical resource limits to the State currently ... The reality is, there is significant pressure on communities and it’s important that we try to have a manageable, sustainable system, and I think most people in the country would see that.”
When pressed he said there should be a reduction in both the number of asylum seekers and foreign-born people on work permits.
He insisted that Aontú is a “pluralist, republican party” and that everyone in the country legally should be treated “equally and respectfully” but he also wanted to see an immigration system that is “efficient and strict”.
Mr Tóibín said that Aontú was responsible for putting the immigration issue on the political agenda, and that most people in the country shared his party’s view.
The party is promising a new border agency, a new asylum court and swifter decisions on asylum cases.
“Where the new court refuses an appeal,” the document states, “the applicant must be subject to enforced deportation.”
Election Daily: has Sinn Féin improved its standing with working class voters?
The party’s document also says that it would ensure “fairness in allocation of resources”.
“The Government has created a situation whereby some people who have entered the country have been given a priority in areas like accommodation, health or transport. We will ensure that non-citizens will no longer be prioritised over Irish citizens for any public service.”
Mr Tóibín rejected as “absolute nonsense” that suggestion that Aontú’s campaigning on immigration was a “dog whistle” to the far right. He said it was “perfectly reasonable in a democratic republic to be able to have a say over who comes into the country and who doesn’t.”
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
- Sign up to our Inside Politics newsletter to get the behind-the-scenes take direct to your inbox
