The largest electoral formation outside of those currently represented in Leinster House who are contesting the general election is the National Alliance.
It includes the National Party, Ireland First and the Irish People parties as well as a number of non-party independents.
They are contesting 32 constituencies. Their only current elected representative is Patrick Quinlan of the National Party who was elected to Fingal County Council in June and is contesting the Dublin West constituency. They have not published a separate manifesto but their key policies are found on their website.
The National Alliance places the need to tackle immigration at the heart of all its priority areas.
In housing they wish to ensure that Irish nationals are given preference for social housing and that the role of “foreign speculators” in the housing market is greatly reduced.
Foreign ownership would be curtailed both in building land and to retain agricultural land within farming families, the Alliance says.
They say supply would be addressed through a massive public building programme along with reducing immigration-fuelled demand. They would also like to see greater emphasis on local construction companies and trained workers – and that rural revitalisation be encouraged through providing affordable housing outside of the major cities which would allow people to remain or to return to their homeplace. Affordability could be addressed through housing co-operatives.
Education should be based around “fostering national pride, cultural heritage and core values” and “free from divisive ideologies,” the Alliance says – and these include the sort of gender and racial theories that have become part of the school curricula. Parents and educators should be given more influence over how the system is run.
They would like to see more emphasis on practical skills as well as a central focus on Irish culture and history with the Irish language as a core part.
The Alliance says education ought to “reinforce family values” as well as encouraging individual moral development. Local education councils would provide a closer link to the community.
On the economy generally, the National Alliance call for the elimination of “climate change taxes,” capping of energy prices, reduction of VAT on construction materials and household items (with reference to Hungarian policy), tax credit incentives and exemptions for families, abolition of USC, investment in domestic energy sources such as gas and alternatives, and tax incentives for local businesses who prioritise the recruitment of Irish workers.
The demand to curb immigration is central to their policy. Fundamental to that is ending the current systems that are in place both with regard to asylum and the hiring of workers from outside of the country.
They say there must be an “immediate end to mass migration”, with an end to what they describe as “open borders mass migration from outside the EU”.
Those who enter the country illegally must be deported, they add – and they call for an end to “abuse of our asylum system with rapid processing & deportation”.
Instead the Alliance says immigration should be “controlled”, which they describe as: enforcing a “strict and limited immigration” policy and ensuring the sustainability of public services, housing, social cohesion and national security.”
They also favour what they describe as Skilled Worker Prioritisation – an “immigration system that primarily favours highly skilled workers from the Irish diaspora, as well as from culturally aligned nations within the EU” – as well as a strengthened border security.
They would defund “pro-mass migration NGOs” and “ban NGOs that promote mass migration from influencing government immigration policies”.
Instead they would seek a “Irish Diaspora Focus” which would “ Prioritise the return of the Irish diaspora and offer incentives to those who wish to reintegrate into Irish society.”
The National Alliance places opposition to abortion at the centre of its aims. It states that their “Pro Life Policy” is designed to foster a culture that values and protects all innocent life at every stage, from conception until natural death. All policies made under our pro-life policy abide by this moral principle.”
They place this in the context of a “a holistic approach to protecting life, strengthening individuals, families, and communities.” They also oppose what euthanasia and propose to recreate a culture which is centred on the mother and child which would include “free or subsidised maternal health programmes, especially for low-income families, to reduce barriers and improve health outcomes.”
Apart from Quinlan, the Alliance’s most high-profile candidates are likely Derek Blighe who is running in Cork North Central, and Stephen Redmond running in Dublin North West who polled well in the local elections.