People's Republic. The party boasted about the INLA's bombing of a radar station on Mount Gabriel, County Cork in 1982, which it said was used by NATO. In August 2022, IRSP members and Russian nationalists staged a protest against the Ukrainian military, outside Dublin's General Post Office. The Irish security services believe the Russian government were involved in organizing the protest. Broad Front The IRSP supports the formation of what it calls the "Broad Front" which would oppose British occupation and imperialism in Ireland. Policies would include: UK must denounce all claims of sovereignty over the island Withdrawal of all UK troops and release of all republican prisoners UK to compensate the Irish people for the exploitation that has occurred throughout Ireland. Policing The IRSP is in favour of an All-Ireland, democratically controlled, unarmed police force. Abstentionism The IRSP are not abstentionist in principle but they would support abstentionism in certain situations for tactical reasons. Housing IRSP believes that the right to a home is a fundamental human right and that the state has a responsibility to deal with homelessness. Abortion The party's policy on abortion is that it should be legalised, available on demand and free of charge. Membership Party members are often referred to as the "Irps" (pronounced "Erps"). In the late 1970s, Divis Flats in west Belfast became colloquially known as "the planet of the Irps" (a reference to the IRSP and the film Planet of the Apes). Representation The party is represented in North America by the Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America. List of secretaries Kevin Morley John Martin Mick Plunkett Milestones in the IRSP's history 1975: At the IRSP's inaugural convention, it becomes the first political party in Ireland to support the legalisation of abortion and equal rights for gays and lesbians. 1981: The IRSP wins two seats on the Belfast City Council, and comes close to winning a third. The IRSP runs two candidates, Kevin Lynch and Tony O'Hara, in the Irish parliamentary election as Independent Anti H-Block candidates. Neither candidate wins, but Lynch comes within 300 votes of winning a seat, while O'Hara garnered a respectable number of votes. 1982: Party member Brigid Makowski wins a seat on the Shannon Town Commission. See also Jim Lane Sallins Train Robbery References Further reading Bernard, Margie. Daughter of Derry: The Story of Brigid Sheils Makowski; iUniverse; 20 January 2009; External links Irish Republican