Peadar Tóibín: Independent Ireland is a 'different beast' - but closer ties with Aontú possible

What the report says

TheJournal.ie reported on 18 July 2026 that Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says he does not regret leaving Sinn Féin, eight years after he quit following a suspension linked to his Dáil vote against abortion legislation. In an interview at Aontú’s Kildare Street office before the Dáil summer recess, the Meath West TD criticised Sinn Féin’s leadership and argued the party has lost direction, while saying there are still “good people” in his former party.

Tóibín told The Journal that Aontú is positioned broadly in the political centre, with somewhat left-of-centre economic views and more right-of-centre positions on some social issues. He rejected the idea that the party should be viewed only through its abortion stance, saying it is trying to address social and cultural questions through what he described as a compassionate approach. The report noted that Aontú won two Dáil seats at the last general election — Tóibín’s in Meath West and Paul Lawless’s in Mayo — and secured 3.9% of first-preference votes nationally. Tóibín said he is aiming for 12 seats at the next election.

On possible cooperation with Independent Ireland, Tóibín did not rule out closer ties but said the group was a “different beast” from Aontú. He argued the two parties together represent a new bloc of support and suggested they could learn from transfer strategies used by left-wing parties, while also criticising what he sees as inconsistency within Independent Ireland.

The interview also covered migration policy. TheJournal.ie reported that Aontú wants reduced legal immigration, faster deportations for rejected asylum seekers and an Irish opt-out from the EU migration pact. Tóibín said his party would consider return hubs only in countries meeting proper humanitarian standards, while insisting Aontú wants to help people genuinely fleeing war and violence.