LAST UPDATE | 7 Mar

AONTÚ WILL SEEK to enter government after the next election, party leader Peadar Tóibín said ahead of its Ard Fheis this weekend – and he reckons the party will manage to get “at least a dozen” TDs into the Dáil in that time.

Taking place in Portlaoise today, the Ard Fheis “is a stepping stone in that process”, he said.

Delegates from across the 32 counties will attend the event to debate 106 motions, with RTÉ broadcasting sections of the event as well as the leader’s keynote speech at 6.30pm.

Answering questions from the media this morning, Tóibín was quizzed on Aontú’s proposed path to enter government.

A longtime critic of Fine Gael, he reiterated today that he believes Tánaiste Simon Harris and his party have “created great damage” in Ireland over the past number of years. Aontú would enter government through a coalition with Fianna Fáil, he said.

“I’m no fan of Fianna Fáil in relation to this, but I will say that one thing about Fianna Fáil is because they don’t have that ideological core, it is easier to direct Fianna Fáil in terms of which way you want to go as a country, you know, whether Fianna Fáil are in government with PDS or the Green Party, they seem to take on the colour of their coalition partner,” Tóibín said.

He added: “On the poll figures we have, we reckon that we will have at least a dozen TDs in the next election.”

Ard Fheis 

Ahead of the gathering, Tóibín said the government is breaching the social contract with its own citizens, stating that workers today cannot afford to buy their own home. 

The Meath West TD said the issue of the cost of living will be discussed today, stating that fuel is not a luxury good for families.

“What is the government’s response? Amid spiking fuel costs it is the government’s plan to hike up carbon taxes on 1 May,” said the party leader.

This was a point that Tóibín raised with the Taoiseach during the week in the Dáil.

The government has said they will continue with the roll-out of carbon taxes as it is ring-fenced to pay for efforts such as retrofitting.

However, Tóibín said the carbon tax is gouging hundreds of thousands of families who are already in energy arrears.

Issues such as child welfare services in Ireland, the scoliosis scandal, public transport, the triple lock mechanism, migration and housing will all feature in the discussions at the event today, said Tóibín.

The party has increased its representation since the last election, with three elected Oireachtas members.

The party is running candidates in the upcoming by-elections in Galway West with Orla Nugent and in Dublin Central with Ian Noel Smith.

Additional reporting by Emma Hickey