Independent candidate Brian Stanley launches bid to retrain Dáil seat in Laois
A section of the crowd that attended Independent candidate Brian Stanley's general election campaign launch
UP to 60 people attended the Independent Republican Brian Stanley’s general election launch in Portlaoise Parish Centre.
Among those in attendance were former members from Sinn Féin, the party that Deputy Stanley resigned from last month.
Deputy Stanley’s Election Agent Dick Fitzpatrick encouraged all those in attendance to “row in behind the campaign and to ensure there is somebody with experience and commitment to represent the people of Laois in the Dáil’’.
His Social Media Director Ben Campbell said: “It is important to rally young people and first time voters behind our campaign,’’
The outgoing TD Brian Stanley, in his address to the gathering said: “Unlike one political party, we did not need to bring people from eight other counties to fill a room to impress a party leader. As an Independent candidate the only people I am answerable to are the people of Laois.
"I am standing on my record of work over the past 26 years as an elected representative, 14 of which was a TD.”
He said: “My exposure of the plan to close the Emergency Department in Portlaoise Hospital in 2017 sparked off a campaign that no Government can ignore in the future. I have continued since to demand more investment in the hospital which is now happening. I have actively campaigned for the extensions to Mountmellick Hospital and the improvements and refurbishment in Abbeyleix Hospital.
“Affordable housing to buy or rent was not even on the agenda of Government parties when myself and others started to raise this years ago, and it is only now we see a movement on that.”
The Portlaoise based general election candidate said: “The Disability Sector has always been a priority. I have been a strong advocate for improvements to the Home Adaptation Grants and for greater supports for people with disabilities and their carers. I have constituently raised the demand for improvements to services for children with disabilities including those on the autism spectrum.
“The shortage of school places in the county, including ASD units has been one of my key areas of work and I have engaged with many schools to assist them to get new classrooms and ASD units.”
“As a member of Laois Joint Policing Committee,” he said: “I pressed the case for improved opening hours for local garda stations and the extra gardaí that are now in the county.
“At national level I think it is accepted I have been a very active member of the Dáil in terms of supporting progressive legislation and raising issues regarding Laois.” “As Chairperson of the Dail Public Accounts Committee, I uncovered bad practices in publicly funded bodies such as RTÉ and ensured that the necessary reforms were put in place to stamp it out.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will take one seat each in this constituency. The question is who will take the third seat?
I believe that with my commitment, energy and experience that I can give the strongest representation that the people of Laois need and deserve in the 34th Dáil,” said Deputy Stanley.
