Brian Stanley (politician)
Irish politician (born 1958)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Stanley (born January 1958) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2016 to 2020. He was a TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 2020 to 2024, and previously from 2011 to 2016. He served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee from July 2020 to October 2024.[2][3]
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Brian Stanley | |
|---|---|
Stanley in 2024 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office November 2024 | |
| In office February 2016 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Laois |
| In office February 2020 – November 2024 | |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Laois–Offaly |
| Chair of the Public Accounts Committee | |
| In office 15 July 2020 – 22 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Seán Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Mairéad Farrell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 1958 (age 68)[1] Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland |
| Party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | Sinn Féin (until 2024) |
| Spouse | Caroline Dwane-Stanley |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology |
Political career
Stanley unsuccessfully contested the 2002 and 2007 general elections in Laois-Offaly.[4]
Stanley was elected at the 1999 local elections as a member of Portlaoise Town Council, and was re-elected in 2004, and in 2009.[4] He was elected as a member of Laois County Council for the Portlaoise local electoral area at the 2004 local elections, and was re-elected in 2009.[4] His wife, Caroline Dwane-Stanley, is a member of Laois County Council.[5]
In July 2020, Stanley was appointed as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC),[3] being the first Sinn Féin TD to hold the office.[6] Following his resignation from Sinn Féin in October 2024, he was replaced by Mairéad Farrell as chair of the PAC.[7]
| Elections to the Dáil | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Election | FPv | FPv% | Result | ||
| Sinn Féin | Laoighis–Offaly | 2002 | 2,600 | 4.1 | Eliminated on count 4/6 | |
| Laois–Offaly | 2007 | 3,656 | 5.1 | Eliminated on count 7/11 | ||
| Laois–Offaly | 2011 | 8,032 | 10.8 | Elected on count 13/13 | ||
| Laois | 2016 | 8,242 | 21.2 | Elected on count 3/3 | ||
| Laois–Offaly | 2020 | 16,654 | 24.0 | Elected on count 1/11 | ||
| Independent | Laois | 2024 | 6,782 | 17.7 | Elected on count 8/8 | |
| Elections to Laois County Council | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Election | FPv | FPv% | Result | ||
| Sinn Féin | Portlaoise LEA | 1999 | 416 | 7.5 | Eliminated on count 9/10 | |
| Portlaoise LEA | 2004 | 1,020 | 14.4 | Elected on count 1/9 | ||
| Portlaoise LEA | 2009 | 1,456 | 17.5 | Elected on count 1/11 | ||
Controversies
In December 2020, Stanley became embroiled in controversies over a number of tweets, originating with a tweet that referenced the Narrow Water Ambush by the IRA in 1979.[8][9] In response, Stanley offered apologies before deleting his Twitter account and asked for speaking time in Dáil Eireann to address the situation.[10] Another tweet made by Stanley about Leo Varadkar was criticised by Micheál Martin, saying the tweet had an "inference [sic] of homophobia."[11]
Resignation and investigation
On 12 October 2024, Stanley announced his resignation from Sinn Féin, saying he had been subject to an internal "kangaroo court" following a complaint within the party.[12] Sinn Féin later announced that they had referred the complaint to the Gardaí.[13]
He was re-elected as an independent TD for the Laois constituency at the 2024 general election.[2]
