Aontú’s Manifesto: 

• Aontú is a party of self-determination. We oppose the EU Migration Pact which will erode the ability of domestic governments to manage their immigration systems and adapt to any changes in migration. (Page 22)
• We will create a new Border Agency. It will take over responsibility for border control, processing of applications and enforcement. Currently only a few hundred people are involved in managing our border systems and they are operating across two different government departments and in four different guises – the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the International Protection Office, The Border Management Unit and the International Protection Procurement Service (Page 23)
• We will re-instate the application of planning laws for asylum accommodation. Currently, no planning is required for IPAS accommodation – we have former industrial complexes, hotels and other buildings being automatically converted to house migrants without any input from the local population. (Page 24)
• We will ensure that every application for asylum is processed within 6 months. This will be achieved through the new Border Agency which will be appropriately staffed. We have had asylum applicants wait up to ten years for their applications to be determined, and this must end. Aontú will create a new court and properly resource it to decide on asylum applications. Where the new court refuse an appeal, the applicant must be subject to enforced deportation. (Page 26)
• We are clear, where an applicant deliberately destroys or loses travel documents, they will be refused permission to land. (Page 27)
• We will not permit the entry into the country of anyone with a criminal record. Living in Ireland is a privilege, one which will not be extended to those who have not respected the laws either in their home country or in another in which they have lived. (Page 28)
• Under the new Border Agency, appropriate numbers of staff will be dedicated to enforcing deportation orders and seeing those who have been ordered from the State physically leave. (Page 29)
• Aontú is calling on the government to hold the Greek Coastguard to account over their shocking behaviour in the Mediterranean. Since 2020, over 10,000 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean. The distress signal transcripts of these vessels, and the transcripts of calls made from passengers on the ship are heartbreaking to read. (Page 63)

Access Aontú’s Manifesto here.

Fine Gael’s Manifesto:

• Fine Gael is committed to implementing the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact through a new International Protection Act. In advance of enacting and implementing the new legislation, Fine Gael will: Appropriately restructure Government Departments: Return responsibility for international protection accommodation to the Department of Justice. (Page 66)
• Hire more staff in the International Protection office: We will expand the workforce and introduce processing of applications in large centres where people are accommodated to deliver faster decisions. (Page 66)
• Expand accelerated processing: We will extend accelerated processing to additional designated safe countries to streamline applications. (Page 66)
• Establish a dedicated division of the High Court: A specialised division will be created to handle all immigration cases, ensuring timely legal proceedings. (Page 66)
• Continue ‘doorstop’ operations: We will maintain operations on flights that pose risks of irregular migration to prevent unlawful entry. (Page 66)
• Expand the number of Garda Airline Liaison Officers: Increasing the number of officers at international transport hubs will help to prevent irregular migration. (Page 66)
• Collaborate with the UK Government: We will work together to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the Common Travel Area (CTA) and strengthen the external CTA border. (Page 67)
• Support the Gardaí with necessary resources: We will provide the Gardaí with the laws, technology, and resources needed to dismantle the criminal gangs exploiting the common travel area. (Page 67)
• Increase Carrier Travel Fines: We will increase the maximum fine on carriers to €10,000. (Page 67)
• Deliver a contribution model for accommodation: Asylum seekers will be required to contribute towards their accommodation costs, promoting personal responsibility. (Page 67)
• Withdraw benefit for breaches of rules: Withdraw benefit where applicants have failed to comply with the IP process, committed a serious breach of house rules or where they have engaged in violent criminal behaviour. (Page 67)
• Ensure decisions are acted on: Ensure applicants who have received a final negative decision are no longer entitled to Material Reception Conditions. (Page 67)
• End the emergency use of hotels: We will cease the emergency use of hotels for housing asylum seekers and utilise State lands to develop appropriate facilities. (Page 67)
• Greater lead-in time: Give greater lead-in time to the opening of new facilities, allowing for enhanced and effective local communication, and development of integration. (Page 67)
• Expand the Community Engagement Team: Expand the Community Engagement Team to provide for detailed discussions with communities. (Page 67)
• Plan for public services: Plan more effectively for delivery of increased public services, where possible. (Page 67)
• Expand the Community Recognition Fund: We will introduce a revamped Community Recognition Fund to assist communities facing increased pressure on local services due to the arrival of asylum seekers (Page 67)

Access Fine Gael’s Manifesto here.

Green Party Manifesto: No mention.

Access the Green Party manifesto here.

The National Alliance’s Manifesto: No mention.

Access the National Alliance’s Manifesto here.

Fine Gael’s Manifesto:

• Work together on a North-South, East-West basis: We will strive to improve the lives of everyone across these islands through collaboration and partnership. (Page 77)
• ‘Normalise’ meetings of the Good Friday structures: We will ensure that meetings of bodies such as the North-South Ministerial Council occur regularly, reinforcing renewed momentum in cross border collaboration as a cornerstone of our shared future. (Page 77)
• Collaborate closely with the UK Government: We will work to reset UK-Irish relations, recognising that the peace process thrives when both governments act as full partners and co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. (Page 77)
• Build a future of economic prosperity through the Shared Island initiative: We are investing €1 billion in transport, education, and other critical areas to foster mutual respect and growth. (Page 77)
• Continue support for infrastructure projects: We will advocate for the A5 road upgrade, the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water Bridge to enhance connectivity and economic opportunities. (Page 77)
• Promote funding for PEACEPLUS and Interreg programmes: We will ensure continued funding for these initiatives to support communities in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. (Page 77)
• Be a voice for Northern Ireland at the EU level: We will represent the interests of the people of Northern Ireland in European discussions and negotiations. (Page 77)
• Ensure funding for Northern Ireland students in Erasmus: We will secure funding for Northern Ireland students to participate in the Erasmus programme in Ireland and across the EU. (Page 77)
• Support the UK’s rejoining of the Erasmus+ programme: We will advocate for proposals that facilitate the UK’s re-entry into the Erasmus+ student exchange system. (Page 77)
• Integrate startups and businesses across the island: We will work to foster collaboration between startups and businesses in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, enhancing economic ties. (Page 77)
• Develop an all-island innovation ecosystem: Leveraging the Shared Island Fund, we will invest in initiatives that bridge Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This will involve creating a unified network of innovation hubs, targeted entrepreneurial programs, and continuous AI education and support, with the goal of supporting over 200 ambitious startups annually. (Page 104)

Access Fine Gael’s Manifesto here.

Green Party Manifesto:

• Recognising the evolving political and demographic landscape across the island of Ireland, we are committed to inclusive dialogue in shaping any shared island policy. This includes safeguarding the rights of all groups and ensuring their active participation in the policy process.
  We will:
  • Work towards achieving consensus on the future of our shared island. We believe that a shared island, built on respect and tolerance, has the potential to provide real benefits to people across many aspects of life. (Page 80)
  • Support an all-island Citizens’ Assembly which would both review current governance mechanisms in terms of inclusivity and fair representation and generate and refine options for new governance structures. We will ensure there is diverse representation at the Citizens’ Assembly and make use of mechanisms such as the ‘modified de Borda’ process to build optimal consensus. (Page 80)
  • In the event of a border poll, we will advocate for meticulous, evidence-based preparation. (Page 80)
  • Support the work of the Shared Island Unit by increasing its capacity and resources, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, energy, biodiversity, built and natural heritage, and shared environmental approaches that benefit everyone on the island. We will ensure enhanced cooperation on shared services along the border region and, where appropriate, establish all-island specialist centres or provisions, such as in health. (Page 80)
  • Fully implement the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. (Page 80)

Access the Green Party manifesto here.

The National Alliance’s Manifesto: No mention.

Access the National Alliance’s Manifesto here.

Labour Party Manifesto:

• Labour will continue to develop the all-island economy, and work with parties in Northern Ireland to achieve closer cooperation and integration. (Page 52)
• Work to introduce a UK-Ireland secondment programme in the public service. (Page 52)
• Collaborate on an all-island and east-west basis on common renewable energy goals to realise the potential of offshore wind with a bilateral version of the North Seas Energy Cooperation group of nations and develop an all-island energy policy. (Page 52)
• Deepen collaboration between the healthcare services on our island, deliver bespoke specialist services on an all-Ireland basis, and explore the potential of a joint procurement strategy between the HSE and the NHS in Northern Ireland. (Page 52)
• Establish a joint Invest NI-IDA Ireland working group to maximise the benefits of dual market access, create a North/South trade taskforce, and improve the process of payroll tax collection for cross-border workers. (Page 52)
• Continue to deepen cooperation on skills, further and higher education and establish an all-island skills forum, with a focus on planning and infrastructure development and the green and digital transitions. (Page 52)
• Advance a shared island public transport policy, deliver on the all-island strategic rail review report, and develop an all-island ports strategy. (Page 52)
• Develop an all-island plan to improve water quality across the island and to fund the restoration of nature. (Page 52)
• Explore new tourism opportunities such as linking the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route and promoting Derry as a destination city linking the two jurisdictions while integrating Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East. (Page 52)
• Planning for a United Ireland: Substantial civic dialogue must be facilitated well in advance of a poll to prepare for this, through Citizens’ Assemblies or similar type models like a New Ireland Forum, informed by recent practice, with as broad a range of voices and political actors as possible from across the island. (Page 52)
• The next Taoiseach should appoint a cross community group of Senators from Northern Ireland to join such a committee, with a standing invitee status also for MLAs and MPs from Northern Ireland similar to the approach taken by the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (Page 53).

Access the Labour Party manifesto here.

Fianna Fáil’s Manifesto:

• Build on ever deeper post-Brexit relationships with our European partners (Page 152)
• Work to restore the genuine spirit of partnership and respect between Ireland and Britain that delivered such dividends in the past. This will include new formal arrangements for regular and structured engagement and cooperation,throughout and at all levels of Government. (Page 157)
• Work with our British counterparts to enhance the smooth running of the Common Travel Area, co-operating closely to protect it from illegal migration activity. (Page 157)

Access Fianna Fáil’s Manifesto here.

Green Party Manifesto:

• Work with the new UK Government to minimise friction in North-South and EastWest post-Brexit trade arrangements. (Page 27)
• Beyond the European Union, we will place a high priority on working closely with the UK government with whom we share an indispensable Common Travel Area. We will build new structures and bilateral processes to ensure common approaches to cross-border migration and asylum issues. (Page 65)
• We support all efforts to improve EU-UK relations. (Page 69)

Access the Green Party manifesto here.

The National Alliance’s Manifesto: No mention.

Access the National Alliance’s Manifesto here.

Labour Party Manifesto:

• Ireland must continue to rebuild links with the UK post -Brexit, embed the Windsor Agreement. (Page 128)
• Support an EU-UK sanitary and phytosanitary deal to reduce red tape on agri-food exports. (Page 109)
• A mechanism for engaging with the government of the United Kingdom on planning issues that arise from a unity referendum will need to be formalised, preferably through the established British- Irish Intergovernmental Conference. (Page 53)

Access the Labour Party manifesto here.

People Before Profit’s Manifesto: No mention.

Access People Before Profit’s Manifesto here.

Sinn Féin’s Manifesto:

• The achievement of the Good Friday Agreement was a watershed moment in our political relationship. Both the British and Irish governments have a responsibility to work together for the good of the people as co-guarantors of peace, reconciliation and the realisation of a new future. Sinn Féin in government North and South would strengthen and enhance this process. It is by working in the spirit of friendship that we will together write a new and successful chapter in British-Irish relations. Part of this new chapter must be the realisation that constitutional change in Ireland is coming, and that preparation and planning is now critical. (Page 38)
• Building support for Irish reunification in the European Union and elsewhere (Page 155)

Access the Sinn Féin manifesto here.

Social Democrats Manifesto: 

• Review the system of tax credits, and seek to encourage innovation in business mainly through direct subsidies. Direct subsidies for innovation are likely to be of greater value for early-stage companies and Enterprise Ireland to carry less deadweight loss. Subsidies should form a larger component of the R&D fiscal incentives offered to SMEs. (Page 96)
• Increase public spending on R&D including funding for both basic and commercial research, particularly in STEM, in order to increase the production, diffusion and use of new ideas. (Page 96)
• Ensure the structurally adjusted general government balance respects EU fiscal rules, but fluctuates appropriately over the business cycle (Page 109)
• Respect EU fiscal rules, while supporting efforts under way to reform them in such a way that facilitates investment in housing, infrastructure and climate action. (Page 109)
• We must work to move Ireland from a linear economy to a circular one, including by setting more ambitious recycling and composting targets, and developing a stronger recovery industry. (Page 32)
• It is important that Ireland remains attractive to Foreign Direct Investment, whilst orientating the economy more towards the indigenous sector, providing greater supports for SMEs, which represent the backbone of the Irish economy. (Page 94)
• Invest in the immigration service to fast-track visas for employees of small businesses with critical skills/experience. (Page 95).
• Increase expenditure on Lifelong Learning towards the European average, acknowledging Supporting SME Ambition that ongoing supports for life-long learning and education enable workers to learn new skills and adapt to new technologies. (Page 95)

Access the Social Democrats’ manifesto here.