Peadar Tóibín

Peadar Tóibín ([ˈpʲad̪ˠəɾˠ t̪ˠoːˈbʲiːnʲ]; born 19 June 1974) is an Irish Aontú politician who has served as Leader of Aontú since January 2019. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency since 2011. He previously served as Chair of the Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2016 to 2018.[1][2] In January 2019, he founded a new political party called Aontú.[3]

Peadar Tóibín TD
Leader of Aontú
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 January 2019
Preceded by	New office
Chair of the Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
In office 4 April 2016 – 15 November 2018
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2011
Constituency	Meath West
Personal details
Born	(1974-06-19) 19 June 1974 Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Aontú (since 2019)
Other political affiliations	Sinn Féin (2004–2018) Independent (2018)
Spouse(s)	Deirdre Tóibín
Children	4
Alma mater	University College Dublin

This article is about the Irish politician. For the Scottish serial killer, see Peter Tobin. For American Politician, see Peter J. Tobin.

He was elected as a Sinn Féin candidate in 2011, but resigned from the party on 15 November 2018.

Career

Sinn Féin (2004–2018)

Peadar Tóibín constituency office in Navan, co. Meath

At the 2004 local elections, he stood unsuccessfully for Navan Town Council, and for the Navan local electoral area of Meath County Council.[2] He was co-opted onto Navan Town Council in November 2007, and held that seat at the 2009 local elections, when he was again unsuccessful in the county council election.[2]

Tóibín was suspended from the Sinn Féin parliamentary party for six months in July 2013, when he defied the party whip by voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.[4]

He called for a 'No' vote in the 2018 Referendum on the Eighth Amendment. He and his party colleague Carol Nolan, who had been suspended from Sinn Féin for voting against policy on the abortion issue, were the only representatives from the party to attend a photocall in Merrion Square in Dublin to publicise the 'No' campaign.[5]

Tóibín was again suspended from the Sinn Féin parliamentary party for six months in October 2018, when he defied the party whip by voting against the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018.[6]

On 15 November 2018, Tóibín announced his resignation from Sinn Féin, saying that restrictions imposed on him by the party over his views on abortion had "prevented me from fully representing my constituents".[7]

Aontú (2019–present)

After resigning from Sinn Féin in November 2018, Tóibín announced that he would attempt to establish an alternative republican and conservative party.[8] On 28 January 2019, he revealed that the name of his new political party would be Aontú, Irish for "unity" or "consent".[3]

At the 2020 general election, Tóibín retained his seat in Meath West with 7,322 first-preference votes, or 17.6%, coming in second.

Personal life

He is a business consultant. He is married to Deirdre Tóibín, they have four children.[9] He was the Chairperson of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign. He has a degree in Economics and Politics from University College Dublin (UCD) and was an active member of the Kevin Barry Cumann during his time there.

References

1. "Peadar Tóibín". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
2. "Peadar Tóibín". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
3. Lehane, Mícheál (28 January 2019). "Tóibín reveals name of new political party". RTÉ News. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
4. "Peadar Toibín suspended from Sinn Féin for six months". TheJournal.ie. 12 July 2013.
5. "Cross-party group of politicians calls for No vote in referendum". The Irish Times. 16 May 2018.
6. "Peadar Toibín suspended from Sinn Féin over abortion law vote". The Irish Times. 1 November 2018.
7. "Peadar Tóibín announces resignation from Sinn Féin". Irish Examiner. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
8. "Peadar Tóibín to travel the country with aim to establish new political party". IrishExaminer.com. 15 November 2018.
9. "Peadar Tóibín (Sinn Fein)". Meath Chronicle. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2019.

Oireachtas
Preceded by Johnny Brady Noel Dempsey Damien English	Teachta Dála for Meath West 2011–present With: Shane Cassells 2011–present Damien English 2011–present	Incumbent