Christian Solidarity Party
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Christian Solidarity Party | |
---|---|
File:Christian Solidarity Party.png | |
Leader | Paul O' Loughlin |
Founded | 1991 |
Dissolved | 2014 (year deregistered) |
Headquarters | 14 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1 |
Ideology | Social conservatism, Communitarianism |
Political position | Right-wing |
Colours | Lemon yellow |
The Christian Solidarity Party (Irish: Comhar Críostaí) is an unregistered minor political party in the Republic of Ireland. It has no representation at local or national level. Founded in 1991 as the Christian Principles Party, it stood candidates in the 1991 local elections, it was reformed as the Christian Centrist Party and ran candidates in the 1992 general election receiving 0.2% of first preference votes. It was renamed in 1994 to incorporate the word "Solidarity" following a mutual pledge of support between the party and the conservative advocacy group, Family Solidarity. Its first candidate was Catherine Kelly, contesting the Cork South–Central by-election, 1994,[1] who received 1,704 (4.0%) first preference votes. The CSP took part in the 1997 general election and has contested each General Election, and a number of other by-elections since then. It also fielded candidates in Local and European Parliament elections since its foundation.
In the 2013 Meath East by-election the CSP supported the Direct Democracy Ireland candidate Ben Gilroy taking out newspaper adverts to support him, previously some CSP candidates included DDI on their election literature.
In 2013 the party lobbied the Standards in Public Office to Committee against the mandatory requirement for political parties accounts to be audited by an external body, claiming this would be a very high expense for a small party,[2] where as parties represented in the Dail have access to public funds for this. In January 2014 the party's entry in the official register of political parties was cancelled,[3][4]
Ideology
It advocates an orthodox version of Catholic social teaching, and its main proposals are based upon traditional, and unequivocal, pro-life natalism. The party promotes traditional family values and campaigns against marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.[5][6] The Party made written and oral submissions to various Oireachtas committees regarding proposed legislation on such family and social issues,[7] as well as on other issues such as Seanad reform.[8] The party describes itself as follows:
The Christian Solidarity Party is dedicated to the causes of Life, the Family and the Community. The CSP promotes policies that safeguard the value of human life from conception to natural death, that support the position of the family as the fundamental unit group of society, and that allow human communities to flourish in a manner consistent with human dignity.
The party also campaigned against the announced closure of Ireland's embassy to the Vatican in 2011 and held a small demonstration outside of Leinster House.[9]
Prominent members
Richard Greene, its former leader, stepped down on 13 December 2012.[10] No longer active is Dr Gerard Casey, who was the founder and led the party initially. The current leader and previous Dublin Central candidate, Paul O'Loughlin, has been featured in the party's election broadcast. O'Loughlin's predecessor was Cathal Loftus.
Election history
2014 Local Elections
Although not on the official list of parties, the then party leader Commandant Cathal Ashbourne Loftus ran as a non-party candidate in the 2014 local elections in the Ashbourne ward, using the Christian Solidarity logo on his election leaflets.[11]
2011 general election
The party nominated eight candidates in the 2011 general election five in Dublin and one each in Limerick, Meath and Cork.[12]
- Paul O'Loughlin[13] (Dublin Central)
- Michael Larkin[14] (Dublin North–West)
- Jane Murphy[15] (Dublin South)
- Colm Callanan[16] (Dublin South–Central)
- Daire Fitzgerald[17] (Dún Laoghaire)
- Conor O'Donoghue[18] (Limerick City)
- Manus MacMeanmain[19] (Meath West)
- Harry Rea[20] (Cork North–Central)
At the party's election launch news conference conducted by then leader, Richard Greene stated that the party will campaign on a pro-life and what it calls a 'Euro-Realist' platform and that it will oppose making the poor pay for the economic crisis.[21][22]
The party's Meath West candidate, Manus MacMeanmain (who polled 0.6% of first preference votes) was reportedly unhappy that the Christian Solidarity Party's logo was not present on the ballot paper, and claimed that the image that was used looked like "a bunch of nuts".[23][24]
The party polled 0.1% of the votes and no deposits were saved.
2009 local elections
For the 2009 local elections, they fielded candidates in 13 constituencies. They were:
- Paul O'Loughlin[13] (North Inner City, Dublin City Council)
- Clare Flynn[25] (Ballinasloe, Galway County Council)
- Conor O'Donoghue[18] (Limerick City Council North)
- Colm Callanan[16] (Crumlin-Kimmage, Dublin City Council. 5 LEAs for Laois County Council: Borris-in-Ossory, Emo, Luggacurran, Mountmellick, Portlaoise and 4 LEAs for Offaly County Council: Birr, Edenderry, Ferbane and Tullamore)[26]
None were elected, and none received their election expenses.
2007 general election
The CSP ran seven candidates - two women and five men - in the 2007 election. None were successful and all lost their deposits. Party leader Cathal Loftus received 210 votes in Dublin North, 0.38% of the votes and came last out of eight candidates. Paul O'Loughlin, the party's best-performing candidate, who had recently appeared on the party's party election broadcast, scored just 260 votes in Dublin Central, with 0.75% of the vote. The party as a whole scored 0.06% of the total national vote. The party candidates included:
- Mary Doherty[27] (Donegal North–East)
- Clare Flynn[25] (Galway East)
- Paul O'Loughlin[13] (Dublin Central)
- Colm Callanan[16] (Dublin Mid–West)
- Michael Redmond[28] (Dublin South–Central)
- Conor O'Donoghue[18] (Limerick East)[29]
None were elected.
2004 European Parliament election
In the 2004 European Parliament election, the CSP announced it had no plans to run, but later announced Barry Despard[30] as a candidate. He came ninth of twelve candidates in the Dublin constituency with 5,352 first-preference votes, or 1.3% of the valid poll.
2002 general election
In the 2002 general election, the CSP ran 19 candidates, between the ages of 22 and 82. Some ran in more than one constituency. They spent €12,284.71 on the campaign. The party polled 0.26% of the vote. No candidates were elected, all losing their deposits.
- Tony Smith[31] Cavan–Monaghan - 358 FP votes
- Derek J Whelan[32] Clare - 176 FP votes
- Patrick Manning[33] Cork East - 187 FP votes
- Gerry Duffy[34] Cork North–Central - 215 FP votes
- Gerry Duffy[34] Cork North–West - 383 FP votes
- Paul O'Loughlin[13] Dublin Central - 366 FP votes
- Colm Callanan[16] Dublin Mid–West - 107 FP votes
- David Walshe[35] Dublin North - 247 FP votes
- Michael Larkin[14] Dublin North–West - 154 FP votes
- Darragh O'Reilly[36] Dublin South–West - 760 FP votes
- John Smyth[37] Dublin West - 134 FP votes
- Michael Redmond[28] Dún Laoghaire - 265 FP votes
- Manus MacMeanmain[19] Galway East - 93 FP votes
- Michael Redmond[28] Laois–Offaly - 142 FP votes
- Conor O'Donoghue[18] Limerick East - 86 FP votes
- Patrick O'Riordan[38] Limerick West - 144 FP votes
- Brian Lenehan[39] Longford–Roscommon - 80 FP votes
- Michael Maguire[40] Louth - 79 FP votes
- Michael Redmond[28] Meath - 180 FP votes
- John Lacken[41] Sligo–Leitrim - 166 FP votes
- Michael Larkin[14] Tipperary South - 120 FP votes
- Patrick Walsh[42] Westmeath - 126 FP votes
- Michael O'Connor[43] Wexford - 173 FP votes
1999 European Parliament election
In the 1999 European Parliament election, party leader Gerard Casey[44] contested the Dublin constituency. He finished 10th out of 13 candidates with 9,425 first preference votes (3.36%). He lost his deposit.
1997 general election
In the 1997 General Election, the CSP fielded 8 candidates and polled 0.5% of the vote. No candidates were elected. All lost their deposits.
- Gene Flood[45] Cavan–Monaghan - 1024 FP votes (1.72%)
- Larry McGinn[46] Cavan–Monaghan - 1001 FP votes (1.68%)
- Joe Aston[47] Clare - 499 FP votes (1.06%)
- Eddie Mullins[48] Cork North–Central - 777 FP votes (1.77%)
- Angela Keaveney[49] Dublin North - 666 FP votes (1.62%)
- Gerard Casey[44] Dún Laoghaire - 2,000 FP votes (3.69%)
- Brian Curran[50] Meath - 1,031 FP votes (1.82%)
- John Lacken[41] Sligo–Leitrim - 1,359 (3.01%)
By-elections
- Dublin Central by-election, 2009 - Paul O'Loughlin[13] - 203 FP votes (0.7%)
- Tipperary South by-election, 2000 - Mary Heaney[51] - 784 FP votes (2.6%)
- Dublin South–Central by-election, 1999 - Manus MacMeanmain[19] - 399 FP votes (2.0%)
- Dublin North by-election, 1998 - Angela Keaveney[49] - 565 FP votes (1.7%)
- Dublin West by-election, 1996 - Gerard Casey[44] 768 FP votes (2.7%)
- Cork South–Central by-election, 1994 - Catherine Kelly[1] 1,704 FP votes (4.0%)
Lisbon Treaty
The Christian Solidarity Party campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty referenda.[52] The party also made submissions to the Oireachtas committee on Ireland's future in Europe after the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the first vote. Some members participated in the Cóir campaign and in other anti-Lisbon treaty campaigns.
Children's Rights Referendum
The Christian Solidarity Party campaigned, along with a number of other conservative groupings and individuals, for a No vote in the November 2012 Children Referendum.[53]
The party claimed that the constitutional amendment would give too much power and responsibility to the State with regard to children, with Richard Greene stating that "[t]he real agenda is to dismantle parents’ authority to protect their children, especially teenagers, and to increase State control...it could see the law deciding, for example, how far parents may monitor text messages or internet use to protect their children from bullying".[54]
Marriage Referendum 2015
Christian Solidarity/Comhar Críostaí is registered as "approved body" to monitor postal voting and vote counting,[55] with Cathal 'Ashbourne' Loftus designated as its officer.[56]
References
- ^ a b Catherine Kelly Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Draft Political Party Accounts Letter to the Standards in Public Office, 9 September 2013
- ^ "ELECTORAL ACTS 1992 AND 2012 Register of Political Parties" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 14 January 2014. p. 80.
- ^ "Register of Political Parties in Ireland". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Radio Interview with Paul O'Loughlin of the Christian Solidarity Party www.tallyman.ie, 2010
- ^ Christian Solidarity Party Letter to TD's and Senators regarding the Civil Partnership Bill, Government Documents, 30 October 2009
- ^ Christian Solidarity Submission The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, www.constitution.ie, 21 April 2005
- ^ REPORT on SEANAD REFORM - SEANAD ÉIREANN COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES SUB-COMMITTEE ON SEANAD REFORM, www.oireachtas.ie, 19 April 2004
- ^ "Group to protest closure of Ireland's embassy in Vatican". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ Richard Greene Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Cathal Loftus Election Leaflet Local Elections 2014.
- ^ 2011 Candidates Christian Solidarity Party Website
- ^ a b c d e Paul O'Loughlin Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4778
- ^ a b c Michael Larkin Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Jane Murphy Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b c d Colm Callanan Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Daire Fitzgerald Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b c d Conor O'Donoghue Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4830
- ^ a b c Manus MacMeanmain Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Harry Rea Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ RTE News Election tracker Thursday 17 February 2011.
- ^ Christian Solidarity : Campaign focuses on sovereignty by Marie O'Halloran Irish Times, Friday 19 February 2011.
- ^ Dervan, Cathal (26 February 2011). "Part 1:Election diary from Ireland". Irish Central. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "@RTEmeathWEST". RTÉ Live Election Tracker. RTÉ News. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ a b Clare Flynn Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Irish Times: Local election candidates
- ^ Mary Doherty Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b c d Michael Redmond Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Elections Ireland: 30th Dáil Candidates
- ^ Barry Despard Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Tony Smith Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Derek Whelan Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Patrick Manning Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b Gerry Duffy Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ David Walshe Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Darragh O'Reilly Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4799
- ^ John Smyth Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Patrick O'Riordan Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4833
- ^ Brian Lenehan Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Michael Maguire Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b John Lacken Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Patrick Walsh Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Michael O'Connor Candidate History - http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8793
- ^ a b c Gerard Casey Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Gene Flood Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Larry McGinn Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Joe Aston Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Eddie Mullins Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ a b Angela Keaveney Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Brian Curran Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Mary Heaney Candidate History. electionsireland.org
- ^ Page 13, Advert We Say Vote No to Lisbon www.alive.ie, 20 September 2009.
- ^ "Group begins campaign against Children's Referendum". RTÉ News. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ Minihan, Mary (7 November 2012). "'No' campaign warns on referendum". Irish Times. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ "List Of Bodies As Approved Bodies For The Purpose Of The Referendums On The Thirty-Fourth And Thirty-Fifth Proposed Amendments Of The Constitution" (PDF). Irish Oifigiúil. Dublin: Government of Ireland. 24 April 2015. p. 753. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ Referendum Commission – Approved Bodies
External links
- Christian Solidarity Party — from the Irish Times guide to the 2002 election
- 2007 Christian Solidarity Party Political Broadcast