Áine Ní Chonaill
Áine Ní Chonaill | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cork, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | University College Cork |
| Organization | Immigration Control Platform |
Áine Ní Chonaill is an Irish activist who is the founder and Public relations officer of the Immigration Control Platform (ICP).[1]
Biography
Ní Chonaill was born in Cork. She went on to study at University College Cork and became a school teacher in County Cork, but for the last decade or more she has been public relations officer for ICP.[2] Her political background is largely unknown, but she was involved in the early days of the Progressive Democrats. Ní Chonaill said she started her campaign because she was concerned about the numbers of immigrants arriving in Ireland and about asylum abuse.
Career
At the 1997 general election, Ní Chonaill stood in her native Cork South-West constituency, she received 293 votes.[3] This was followed up in the larger Dublin South-Central constituency at the 2002 general election, where she received 926 votes.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] 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".[7]
She has described the Irish government's response to the 1990 Fajujonu court case, as a betrayal of Irish citizens.[8]
References
- ^ Foxe, Ken (August 10, 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.
- ^ West, Patrick (June 17, 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.
- ^ "Refugees Activist 'Attacked'". The Sun. February 20, 2002.
- ^ Elections Ireland
- ^ Donald, Niall (August 21, 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.
- ^ "Lisbon Treaty referendum". The Irish Times. October 1, 2009. p. 17.
- ^ Duncan, Pamela; Smyth, Jamie (July 12, 2010). "Deported asylum seeker seeks judicial review". The Irish Times. p. 5. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ^ Cottor, Neil (August 7, 2004). "Great Debate Dividing Ireland.. Should we Boot Out Asylum Seekers?". The Mirror. p. 10.