Brian Stanley TD

                           

Brian Stanley is the elected Sinn Féin TD for Laois/Offaly.  As a Councillor he served as Vice Chairperson of the Laois County Council and for five years was chairperson of the councils Strategic Policy Committee for housing, social and cultural affairs.

As a public representative his is active on many issues including; job creation, planning, roads & infrastructure, housing, education, sport and recreational facilities and the environment.

Brian has been involved in various campaigns on a wide range of social, economic, environmental and national issues. He maintains direct involvement in the ongoing campaign for Irish independence and all Ireland integration.                          

Brian holds a regular clinic on the last Saturday of every month at 3:15 pm sharp at the Town Hall, Mountmellick for anyone looking for advice or to bring issues to his attention confidentially.

BRIAN STANLEY'S LETTER to the Editor

of The LEINSTER EXPRESS 26th MARCH 

2013 

Sinn Féin delegation brings the bogs to Brussels

November 7th, 2012 - Brian Stanley TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on environment, community & local government Brian Stanley TD will lead a party delegation to Brussels tomorrow, Thursday 8 November 2012, to meet EU Assistant Director General, Environment, Alan Seatter and senior officials of the EU Commission.

Speaking ahead of the visit Deputy Stanley said: “The purpose of the visit is to highlight the need for a comprehensive and credible plan to deal with the 53 Irish bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and which have been used for turf cutting.

“What is required now is for the government and the EU to work with the turf cutters on developing a plan that includes realistic solutions for all 53 designated Irish bogs including the small number of contentious ones. This is possible and it will deliver a win-win situation for the turf cutters and the protection of habitats. That is the key message we are bringing to the EU officials tomorrow.”

“These bogs were included in the European Habitats Register in 2002 without proper consultation with turf cutters and local communities. Consecutive governments have failed to deal with the issue and have failed turf cutters and their communities.

“While the designation of many of these bogs is not a cause of concern, a number of bogs present major problems due to the difficulties of not being able to relocate turf cutters to undesignated bogs.

“Last March the Dáil unanimously passed a motion to put a plan in place to deal with all 53 bogs and to include solutions where there is difficulty finding a resolution. However there has been little movement on the government side in putting this in place. The Turf Cutters’ & Contractors’ Association put together detailed proposals for all 53 bogs. We believe this is a significant development that should be used as a template to move the process on.

“Unfortunately we have seen no action from the government on developing the plan with the affected communities. Instead their main focus has been on using airplanes to conduct aerial surveillance on turf cutters and wasting scarce garda resources in attempts to confiscate turf cutting machinery on the bogs.”

The delegation consists of Brian Stanley TD, Martina Anderson MEP, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Roscommon-South Leitrim councillor, Martin Kenny.

The meeting with EU Commission is at 1.30pm local time.

Sinn Féin delegation proposes turf wars resolution plan

November 8th, 2012 - Brian Stanley TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on environment, community & local government Brian Stanley TD today led a delegation to Brussels to seek a resolution to the designated bogs dispute in Ireland. He was joined by party colleagues, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, MEP Martina Anderson and Cllr Martin Kenny.

Speaking from Brussels following a meeting with the European Commission on the Environment, Deputy Stanley said:
“Our meeting today was positive and productive and highlighted the need for a comprehensive and credible plan to deal with the 53 bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and which have been used for turf cutting. These were included in the European Habitats Register in 2002 without proper consultation with turf cutters and local communities.

“We stressed to the Commission the urgency of the situation and we are confident that the European Commission will use its influence to encourage the Irish government to re-engage and become more proactive in seeking a solution. Consecutive governments failed to deal with this issue.

“We want all sides to engage with the process. The Commission is committed to helping the turf cutters and the Irish government to reach a comprehensive and credible solution and produce a win-win solution for turfcutters and the protected habitats.

We are proposing that an independent arbitrator be appointed to draw up a plan that is acceptable to the Irish government, the turf cutters and the EU. The input of the Turfcutters’& Contractors’ Association is critical to this solution.
Sinn Féin will be seeking meetings with Minster Jimmy Deenihan and the TCCA as a matter of urgency to update them on progress made at today’s meeting.”

The delegation met with Deputy General, European Commission on Environment, Alan Seatter & Míchael O’Briain, Head of Nature, European Commission on Environment.http://blogs.myhome.ie/tag/brian-stanley/