View source for Immigration Control Platform

{{short description|Defunct Irish political party}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
|country           = the Republic of Ireland
|name              = Immigration Control Platform
|native_name       =
|logo              =
|leader1_title     = Founder
|leader1_name      = [[Áine Ní Chonaill]]
|foundation        = 13 January 1998
|dissolution       = October 2022
|headquarters      =
|ideology          = [[Anti-immigration]] <br> [[Euroscepticism]]
|position          = [[Far-right]]<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=28 November 2004 |title=Ní Chonaill to debate immigration with SF councillor |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30177939.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://doras.dcu.ie/2138/1/2008-1.pdf?origin=publication_detail |title=Why Is There No Radical Right Party In Ireland?  |last=O'Malley |first=Eoin |date=2008 |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote=Despite these features, the only generally accepted radical-right group, the Immigration Control Platform, has failed to register any notable support.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=6 October 2002 |title=Bertie's blunders help No's |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/focus/story/0,,805647,00.html |work=[[The Guardian]] |location= |access-date= |quote=Far-right groups allied with the No campaign, such as the Anti-Immigration Control Platform, have argued that enlargement will lead to Ireland being 'swamped' by Poles, Czechs and Hungarians who will be entitled to work anywhere in the EU. }}</ref>
|colorcode         = {{party color|Immigration Control Platform}}
}}
'''Immigration Control Platform''' (ICP) ({{langx|ga|An Feachtas um Smacht ar Inimirce}}<ref name="Pryor2007"/>) was a political group which sought to restrict [[immigration to Ireland]]. The organisation's website described it as an "Irish [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]" funded by subscriptions and donations.<ref name="about"/> It was not registered in Ireland as a [[political party]], but between 2002 and 2011 it ran [[independent politician|non-party]] candidates in elections, with their election material displaying the Immigration Control Platform branding.

==Positions and organisation==
The ICP did not apply for political party status,<ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/election2007/features/features19.html  Focus - General Election 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026154152/http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/election2007/features/features19.html |date=26 October 2010 }}, Irish Times, 19 May 2007</ref> although it was registered as a "Third Party" by the Standards in Public Office Commission<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sipo.ie/Website/en/Reports/Register-of-Third-Parties/|title=Register of Third Parties|website=sipo.ie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528232308/http://www.sipo.ie/Website/en/Reports/Register-of-Third-Parties/|archive-date=2018-05-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its website described it as a "voluntary organisation" for which:<ref name="about">{{cite web | url = http://www.immigrationcontrol.org/aboutus | title = About Us | publisher = Immigration Control Platform website | accessdate = 14 March 2021 | archive-date = 24 April 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180424005506/http://www.immigrationcontrol.org/aboutus/ | url-status = usurped }}</ref>
* "The aim of the organisation is to address the phenomenon of immigration to Ireland and to lobby Government for a tight immigration policy",
* "The organisation aims at a very rigorous policy in relation to asylum-seekers, refugees, and a determined response to all illegal immigration", and that,
* "No one who holds views of racial superiority is welcome in the group."

ICP's main activities were writing [[letters to newspapers]], issuing [[press release]]s, and maintaining a website.<ref name="Quinn2008">{{cite book|last=Quinn|first=Emma|title=Handbook on Immigration and Asylum in Ireland 2007|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rXWDkX_XpicC&pg=PA264|access-date=6 April 2015|year=2008|publisher=ESRI|isbn=9780707002743|pages=263–4|chapter=Organisations and Agencies}}</ref> It also issued leaflets and occasionally held small protests and [[Picketing (protest)|picket]]s.<ref name="Quinn2008" /> It had an executive committee elected by its membership at an annual meeting. It claimed to be funded by membership fees and private donations. Its leaders described it as a [[Single-issue politics|single-issue]] group.<ref name="journal2025189"/> Historian Judith Pryor interpreted its policy as favouring white immigrants over non-whites.<ref name="Pryor2007">{{cite book|last=Pryor|first=Judith|title=Constitutions: Writing Nations, Reading Difference|chapter='In the name of God and of the dead generations': Proclaiming the Irish Republic|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqSGsqMHY5AC&pg=PA77|access-date=2 April 2015|date=2007-08-09|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134082926|pages=47, 77 (fn.1)|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119004343/https://books.google.com/books?id=JqSGsqMHY5AC&pg=PA77|url-status=live}}</ref> ICP denied being [[racism|racist]].<ref name="ex861872406"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/politics/irish-far-right-groups-remain-on-the-margins-of-political-life-109464.html|title=Irish far right groups remain on the margins of political life|last=Millar|first=Scott|date=12 January 2010|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042041/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/politics/irish-far-right-groups-remain-on-the-margins-of-political-life-109464.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

ICP had no policy on Irish [[illegal immigration to the United States]], an issue sometimes linked with immigration to Ireland.<ref name="journal2025189"/> ICP candidate Ted Neville had himself spent time illegally in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/pride-and-blatant-prejudice-27994553.html|title=Pride and blatant prejudice|last=Freyne|first=Patrick|date=25 November 2011|work=[[The Herald (Ireland)|The Herald]]|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406191345/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/pride-and-blatant-prejudice-27994553.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
ICP's most prominent member was [[Áine Ní Chonaill]], whose official title was [[public relations officer]].<ref name="McGee2003"/> A schoolteacher from [[Clonakilty]], she stood in [[Cork South-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork South-West]] in the [[1997 Irish general election|1997 general election]] as an independent on an anti-immigration platform, winning 0.84% of the first-preference vote.<ref name="electionsireland4249">{{cite web|url=https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4249|title=Aine Ni Chonaill|work=ElectionsIreland|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404103109/https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4249|url-status=live}}</ref> The election came early in the [[Celtic Tiger]] economic boom and an increase in [[asylum seekers]] from Eastern Europe and further afield. ICP was founded at a meeting organised by Ní Chonaill in [[Ennis]] on 13 January 1998.<ref name="it19980114">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1998/0114/Pg006.html#Ar00601|title=Meeting of new anti-immigration group in Ennis disrupted by groups of protesters|date=14 January 1998|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|url-access=subscription |page=6|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> The meeting was disrupted by [[anti-racism]] activists, and the venues of later ICP conferences were not disclosed in advance.<ref name="it19980114"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60664040.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160627/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60664040.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Racist slur on meeting|date=21 August 1998|work=The Mirror]|access-date=2 April 2015|location=London}}</ref>

In 1999 ICP did not run any candidates in that year's [[1999 European Parliament election in Ireland|European Parliament elections]], however the group campaigned against [[Proinsias De Rossa]] of the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]], claiming it would be disastrous for Ireland if he was elected to the European Parliament because of his pro-immigrant views.<ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jFjA1sPFFhDu67Bt32aee |title=Immigration Control Platform -Episode 42 |website="The Others" The Alan Kinsella Podcast |publisher= |host=Alan Kinsella |date=7 April 2021 |time= |access-date= |archive-date=7 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407090556/https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jFjA1sPFFhDu67Bt32aee |url-status=live }}</ref> De Rossa's candidacy was successful despite the ICP's efforts.

In 2002 the leader of the far-right [[British National Party]] [[Nick Griffin]] encouraged Irish voters to support Immigration Control Platform and offered financial aid to the organisation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Byrne |first=Nicola |date=28 April 2002 |title=Far right leader with BNP links was Ahern aide |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/apr/28/race.thefarright |work=[[The Guardian]] |location= |access-date= |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021000322/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/apr/28/race.thefarright |url-status=live }}</ref>

Journalist [[Harry McGee]] in 2003 described Irish media coverage of ICP as disproportionate to its small size and generally hostile to its views.<ref name="McGee2003">{{cite book|editor-last1=Fraser|editor-first1=Ursula|editor-last2=Harvey|editor-first2=Colin J.|first=Harry|last=McGee|title=Sanctuary in Ireland, Perspectives on Asylum Law and Policy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PqAoaNx2eVwC&pg=PA201|access-date=3 April 2015|year=2003|publisher=Institute of Public Administration|isbn=9781904541042|page=201|chapter=Media response to asylum|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119151114/https://books.google.com/books?id=PqAoaNx2eVwC&pg=PA201|url-status=live}}</ref> ICP has refused to tell the media or Oireachtas how many members it has.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/report-on-improving-system-for-asylum-seekers-due-in-weeks-1.2161671|title=Report on improving system for asylum seekers due 'in weeks'|last=Edwards|first=Elaine|date=1 April 2015|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|quotation=Asked by independent TD Finian McGrath how many members her organisation had, Ms Ní Chonaill said she had never given that answer to journalists and would “not allow them to get it now indirectly”.|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706024001/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/report-on-improving-system-for-asylum-seekers-due-in-weeks-1.2161671|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JUJ20150401" />

In 2003 Ní Chonaill along with then-chairman John Oakes attended a discussion on immigration at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.<ref name="jcjedwr2003">{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/JUJ2003061900003|title=Immigration Bill 2002: Presentations.|date=19 June 2003|work=Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights proceedings|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060553/http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/JUJ2003061900003|url-status=live}}</ref> Ní Chonaill felt that a January 2003 Supreme Court decision, which permitted deportation of illegal immigrants with Irish-born children, did not go far enough.<ref name="jcjedwr2003"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/(WebFiles)/570CDB290D7DA6338025765E00430805/$FILE/AO%20and%20OJO%20v%20Min%20Justice_2003.rtf.|title=Lobe & Osayande v Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform|date=23 January 2003|publisher=Courts Service|pages=[2003] 1 I.R|access-date=20 April 2015|location=Dublin}}</ref> ICP supported the successful [[Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|2004 referendum]] which restricted [[jus soli|citizenship by birth]], a practice ICP said encouraged [[birth tourism]] by pregnant illegal immigrants.

After 2011, ICP stopped running candidates in general elections and refocused the organisation as an "NGO".

Ní Chonaill and Ted Neville of ICP spoke at the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on 1 April 2015.<ref name="journal2025189"/><ref name="JUJ20150401">{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/JUJ2015040100002|title=Undocumented Migrants: Immigration Control Platform|date=1 April 2015|work=Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality proceedings|publisher=Oireachtas|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519125603/http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/JUJ2015040100002|url-status=live}}</ref>  During that meeting [[Anne Ferris]] was made to withdraw a comment comparing ICP's views to [[Nazism]].<ref name="journal2025189">{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/immigration-control-platform-oireachtas-2025189-Apr2015/|title=Oireachtas told: 'Illegal immigrants are giving two fingers to the State'|last=Duffy|first=Rónán|date=1 April 2015|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401195549/http://www.thejournal.ie/immigration-control-platform-oireachtas-2025189-Apr2015/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JUJ20150401" />

The organisation was wound up at its 2022 AGM.{{fact|date=June 2025}}

==Elections==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ICP candidates in elections
! Date !! Candidate !! Election !! Constituency !! 1st-pref&nbsp;%<br><ref group="n">Percentage of valid first-preference votes cast for the candidate.</ref> !! Refs
|-
| [[2002 Irish general election|2002]] || {{sortname |Áine |Ní Chonaill}} || General || [[Dublin South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin South-Central]] || 2.1 || <ref name="electionsireland4249"/>
|-
| [[2002 Irish general election|2002]] || {{sortname |Ted  |Neville |nolink=Y }} || General || [[Cork South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Cork South Central]] || 0.67 || <ref name="electionsireland4764"/>
|-
| [[2004 Irish local elections|2004]] || {{sortname |Pat  |Talbot |nolink=Y }} || Local || [[Dublin City Council]], [[Cabra, Dublin|Cabra]] || 1.65 || <ref name="ex861872406">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/0527/ireland/putting-irish-people-first-861872406.html|title=Putting Irish people first|last=McCárthaigh|first=Seán|date=27 May 2004|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403095240/http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/0527/ireland/putting-irish-people-first-861872406.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="electionsireland6201">{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6201|title=Pat Talbot|work=ElectionsIreland|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404122147/http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=6201|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|  [[2004 Irish local elections|2004]] || {{sortname |Ted  |Neville |nolink=Y }} || Local || [[Cork City Council]],  South Central || 1.44 || <ref name="electionsireland4764">{{cite web|url=https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4764|title=Ted Neville|work=ElectionsIreland|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404123425/https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=4764|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[2007 Irish general election|2007]] || {{sortname |Pat  |Talbot |nolink=Y }} || General || [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]]  || 0.69  || <ref name="electionsireland6201"/>
|-
|  [[2007 Irish general election|2007]] || {{sortname |John  |Donnelly |nolink=Y }} || General || [[Dublin North (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North]]  || 0.52 || <ref name="electionsireland8750">{{cite web|url=https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8750|title=John Donnelly<sup>2</sup>|work=ElectionsIreland|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=4 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404091840/https://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=8750|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|  [[2007 Irish general election|2007]] || {{sortname |Ted  |Neville |nolink=Y }} || General ||  [[Cork South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Cork South Central]] || 1.36 || <ref name="electionsireland4764"/>
|-
| [[2009 Dublin Central by-election|2009]] || {{sortname |Pat  |Talbot |nolink=Y }} || By-election || [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]] || 2.16 || <ref name="electionsireland6201"/>
|-
| [[2011 Irish general election|2011]] || {{sortname |Ted  |Neville  |nolink=Y }}{{#tag:ref|Neville stood in 2011 under the label of "Irish Solidarity Party" (which is not a registered party).<ref name="electionsireland4764"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/election-candidates-2011/cork-south-central/ted-neville/|title=Ted Neville|work=Candidates 2011|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie]]|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407035644/http://www.thejournal.ie/election-candidates-2011/cork-south-central/ted-neville/|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="n"}} || General ||  [[Cork South-Central (Dáil constituency)|Cork South Central]] || 0.82 || <ref name="electionsireland4764"/>
|}

;Note:
{{reflist|group="n"}}

==General election results==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Seats won
! ±
! Position
! First Pref votes
! %
! Government
! Leader
|-
![[2007 Irish general election|2007]]
| {{Composition bar|0|166|hex={{party color|Fine Gael}}}}
| {{Clear}}0
| {{Clear}} 12
| 1,329
| 0.06
| style="background-color:#FFCCCC" |No seats
| [[Áine Ní Chonaill]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Identity Ireland]]
* [[Pegida Ireland]]
* [[National Party (Ireland, 2016)|National Party (Ireland)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20230416073330/http://www.immigrationcontrol.org/ Official website]}} (archived 2023)

{{Historic Irish parties}}

[[Category:Anti-immigration politics in Europe]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in Ireland]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in Ireland]]
[[Category:Immigration to the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Political advocacy groups in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1998]]