Brian Stanley joined by former Sinn Fein members at Laois election campaign launch

An optimistic Brian Stanley was joined by former Sinn Féin members as he launched his election campaign in Portlaoise Parish Centre. 

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will take one seat each in this constituency. The question is who will take the third seat?” the former Sinn Fein TD asked as he launched his bid to hold onto a Dáil seat in the new three seat constituency of Laois.  

According to Mr Stanley, “an enthusiastic group of up to 60 people attended the gathering, with all those in attendance pledging to help. Included in this were a number of former members of Sinn Féin.’’

He was joined by his campaign team, Election Agent, Dick Fitzpatrick, Social Media Advisor, Ben Campbell, and Director of Canavassing, Clare Spollen. 

Mr Stanley welcomed everybody and thanked them for attending. “Unlike one political party, we did not need to bring people from eight other counties to fill a room to impress a Party Leader,’’ he said in an unveiled jibe at his former party. 

“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,” he told those assembled. 

He claimed affordable housing to buy and rent were not even on the agenda of Government parties when he and others began raising the issue years ago.

“The Disability Sector has always been a priority and 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,” he said. .

Mr Stanley said as a member of the Laois Joint Policing Committee, he pushed for improved opening hours for local Garda Stations and the extra Gardai 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 RTE and ensured that the necessary reforms were put in place to stamp it out,” he said. 

“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 Dail,” he said. 

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’’.

Social Media Director, Ben Campbell said, “it is important to rally young people and first time voters behind our campaign.’’