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Irish Times

Aontú's Peadar Tóibín's speech at ardfheis to be televised on RTÉ for first time

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín's keynote speech at his party's ardfheis will be televised on RTÉ for the first time, a reflection of an increased election vote. Voter share rose from 1.9 per cent in the 2020 general election to 3.9 per cent in 2024, an increase sufficient to secure the party live TV coverage. Aontú, which translates as 'Unity', says it has 1,800 members, about 400 of whom are expected to attend the fifth annual ardfheis at the City North Hotel in Gormanston, Co Meath. Membership surged in the wake of the failed family and care referendums last year, when Aontú was the only political party to successfully advocate for a No vote in both. READ MORE Mr Tóibín said 'we have built a grass roots, membership-based, cumann infrastructure around the country at a time when the establishment parties are losing theirs'. Speaking before the one-day event, he said 'the referendums were a watershed in the ability of the Irish people to tolerate meaningless virtue signalling. We are the only party listening to the people. [ Aontú 'actively considering' running candidate in presidential election Opens in new window ] 'We were the only party to stand up for the people on the referendums, the hate speech laws, carbon taxes, the right to life, the Government's chaotic immigration policy and gender ideology. We did so on the basis of commonsense and compassion.' The leader's speech will be broadcast live after the Six One News on RTÉ 1 and the party's debate on 'Aontú Accountability versus Glacial Government Delivery' from 12 to 1pm will be covered on the RTÉ news channel. This debate will focus on the 'glacial' pace of delivery on infrastructure projects including the national children's hospital. International protection, health, housing, crime and 'commonsense political reform' are also among the debate topics at the daylong event. The theme of the ardfheis is to tackle 'Government Incompetence, Waste and Lack of Accountability'. Mr Tóibín said, 'key public services and key infrastructure across the country is grinding to a halt and bloating in cost every day. 'The national children's hospital is a monument to government incompetence. But there are dozens of other wasteful projects ballooning out of all proportion. This has a serious cost to citizens.' Five years after the former Sinn Féin member and Meath West TD founded Aontú it now has two TDs – Mr Tóibín and Mayo TD Paul Lawless; Cavan Senator Sarah O'Reilly; and eight local councillors who include Mr Tóibín's sister, Navan-based Cllr Emer Tóibín; and Mr Lawless' sister Cllr Deirdre Lawless who was co-opted to replace him on Mayo County Council. Councillors also include Trim, Co Meath-based Cllr Dave Boyhan; Castleknock, Dublin Cllr Ellen Troy; Cllr Adrian Rogers from Cootehill, Co Cavan; Ongar, Co Dublin-based Cllr Gerard Sheehan; Wexford Cllr Jim Codd; and Limerick Cllr Sarah Beasley.