THE IMMIGRATION Control Platform’s sole candidate in the recent local elections is unlikely to contest any future polls.
Patrick Talbot of the group, who previously ran in a general election unsuccessfully, told Metro Éireann: “If you’re bainisteoir [manager] of a county team, you’re given three goes and kicked out. I seriously have to think about this.”
The ICP runs on a ticket of tightening immigration, and Talbot has previously stated that “bar those that we really need”, immigrants in Ireland should pack their bags.
In a field of nine in Dublin Central’s by-election, Talbot polled third last, amassing 614 first preference votes, and was eliminated on the third count with 676 ballots, following transfers.
Over 28,000 people voted in the constituency, with Tony Gregory’s former election agent Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind) taking the seat with 13,739 overall votes.
Talbot cited scant financial backing and “very few people to help us out” as the reason for his sound defeat, but felt he “did get the message out”. He said he was “disappointed” and is unlikely to run again.
“At this stage, never say never, but I would not think so. I’m wrecked doing it.”
Talbot added that immigration is the principle issue that “mainstream politicians” would prefer to avoid.
The organisation’s PRO Áine Ní Chonaill also gave her reaction: “Obviously we would have preferred a higher share of first preference ballots. But we had a good lot of second preference votes.”
Asked what’s next for the ICP, Ní Chonaill said: “It’s much too early to say what will happen in the next elections. There is some division of opinion about whether or not we should even involve ourselves in elections.”
She explained that some in the ICP – which won’t disclose its membership figures – worry that low votes in elections suggest they are not worth voting for.
Ní Chonaill also pointed to the spending limits imposed on the ICP, which is a non-governmental organisation. Addition-ally, because it is not a political party, its candidates are listed as ‘independent’ on ballot papers.
“There are a multiplicity of reasons for the election results,” stated Ni Chonaill.
