Political Platform: Peadar Tóibín TD
Peadar Tóibín TD was first elected as a Sinn Féin TD for the Meath West constituency during the 2011 general election. He resigned from Sinn Féin at the end of 2018 over its support for repealing the Eight Amendment on abortion and formed Aontú in January 2019. Tóibín outlines his political journey to eolas Magazine.
What inspired you to get into politics?
I had a strong interest in politics from a very young age. I am the youngest of seven children and when I was young, the dinner table was lively with discussions about emigration, ‘the Troubles’, the referenda on abortion etc. As a child, we were not allowed to watch TV on school nights, except for the news and programmes like Today Tonight. The hunger strikes happened when I was seven-years old, and I remember the coverage on TV. I remember the shock of each funeral when a hunger striker died. I remember the feeling of injustice, and was determined to find out more about the partition of Ireland.
What has been your proudest achievement in politics?
The foundation and growth of Aontú. Aontú is a relatively new political party, but we have proven ourselves very different from the political establishment. In the last 18 months, Aontú has won two referenda and made breakthroughs in the Dáil, in the Seanad, and in councils across the country. Aontú received the highest increase in vote of any party in the last election. Just under 100,000 voters across the 32 counties put their trust in Aontú. We are a grassroots, people-powered movement on the rise.
Who do you admire in politics or public life?
That’s a hard question. I admire people of conviction. People who sacrifice for the greater good. I also admire integrity, people who will remain true to their values even against the prevailing winds of the time. Lincoln, Pearse, Connolly, Sands, Sister Stan, Pope Francis. I think Richard Bruton was one of the most effective ministers in previous governments.
What inspired you to create Aontú?
The Irish political system had become incredibly lopsided. Most political parties were losing touch with grassroots members. Most sought to locate around whatever was the intellectual fashion of the day. There was little or no competition of ideas and a significant sector of Irish society had no representation.
I and many others believed that we need a party of commonsense that also had a compassionate heart. I think we have been proven right. The political approach by the establishment was in lockstep on Covid, in immigration, public waste, lack of accountability, the family and carers’ referendums and on social issues. Aontú has been a breath of fresh air.
“The political approach by the establishment was in lockstep on Covid, in immigration, public waste, lack of accountability, the family and carers’ referendums and on social issues. Aontú has been a breath of fresh air.”
Peadar Tóibín TD
What are your key priorities for your constituency?
There are nearly a quarter of a million people living in Meath. More Meath people commute more frequently and further than any other county. Navan is the biggest town in Ireland without a rail line. We have been promised a rail line for decades. I am the chair of the Meath on Track Campaign and I am determined that it will be built in the next eight years.
The Government also seeks to close Navan A&E. Given the damage to life of the closure A&Es in the Midwest to UHL Limerick, I think this would be a disastrous decision. I am the chair of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign. We are the most successful hospital campaign in Ireland, and I am determined that the A&E will not close. I am also frustrated by the fall in Garda numbers in Meath. I chair the Safer Meath Campaign to try and get more Gardaí into the county.
What are your interests outside of work?
My family. The last number of years have been incredibly busy. I do dozens of public meetings across the 32 counties. I always come home so as to have breakfast with the family. You only have kids for a short time and it is important to spend as much time with them as you can. The family has a plan to climb the tallest mountain in every county in the country. We have about nine counties done so far. I’m hoping to get another nine climbed with the kids before the end of summer 2025.
I make my own cider every autumn. In another life I was close to setting up a craft beer brewery. I plan to drink a beer from every county in the country over the next few years too. I am a bit of a ‘grow your own’ fan too and find the garden a balm for a busy mind.
