Declan Bree
Encyclopedia
Declan Bree is an Irish
independent
politician who is currently the joint longest-serving member of Sligo Borough Council. He was a founder of the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation
in 1974, and was a member of that group until joining the Labour Party
in 1991. He served in Dáil Éireann
from 1992 to 1997. In May 2007, Bree resigned from the Labour Party, citing differences with their pre-electoral pact with Fine Gael
, and his clashes with then party leader, Pat Rabbitte
.
in 1974 and has retained his seat on both authorities at each subsequent election. He was Mayor of Sligo in 2004 and was Chairman of Sligo County Council in 1986.
He is a former Chairman of the Health Service Executive’s Regional Health Forum West, and he is also Chairman of the Western River Basin Advisory Council.
A member of Ireland's radical socialist youth organisation the Connolly Youth Movement
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he went on to become National Chairperson of the movement. A founder and former Chairperson and General Secretary of the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation he has been a lifelong political activist.
He was the Sligo/Leitrim Campaign Director in both Divorce referendum campaigns and he was a lifelong member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement.
He was the Secretary of the National Association of Labour Councillors, President of the Connolly Forum (Sligo) and he is also Secretary of the Gralton Labour History Committee (Leitrim). He is a patron of People's Movement
which campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty.
An active trade unionist he is a former member of the Western branch Committee of the Federated Workers Union of Ireland. He is currently a member of the Sligo branch of SIPTU. He is also a member of the Executive of the Local Authority Members Association.
Involved in numerous voluntary and cultural organisations over the years he is a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
, a former Sligo County Secretary of Comhaltas, and was Cathaoirleach of the host branch of Comhaltas when Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was awarded to Sligo. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Hawk's Well Theatre and a member of the Board of the Model:Niland Gallery.
The State military files released last year after 30 years which highlighted the whereabouts and activities of suspected 'subversives', included Declan Bree as well as other prominent activists such as Tomás Mac Giolla, Cathal Goulding
, Captain James Kelly and Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
. Bree in answer to this new notoriety, said 'This reflected the general paranoia of Church and State in the Ireland during the 60s and 70s', and 'Practically everyone active in left wing politics at the time was considered dangerous and subversive', he added.
He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann
as an independent candidate at the 1977 general election
but was not elected. He was also unsuccessful at the 1981, February 1982, November 1982, 1987 and 1989 general elections. He was elected to the Dáil as a Labour Party Teachta Dála
(TD) at the 1992 general election
for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. He lost his seat at the 1997 general election
. He stood again at the 2002 general election but was not elected.
At the 2004 Labour Annual Conference, Bree argued against the pre-electoral pact with the right wing Fine Gael
party. In Autumn 2005, Bree, a strong supporter of travellers rights, clashed with Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte
over the issue of Traveller accommodation in Sligo.
A 2009 report, commissioned after a walk out by officials of Sligo Borough Council, found that he bullied staff and his behaviour branded as "inappropriate and bullying".
Bree was involved in negotiations to set up the United Left Alliance
in November 2010 however disagreements arose and he did not join then, however in February 2011 he joined and ran unsuccessfully at the 2011 general election in the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
politician who is currently the joint longest-serving member of Sligo Borough Council. He was a founder of the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation
Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation
Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation was a minor political party led by Sligo County Councillor Declan Bree. It was set up in 1974 and contested local elections to Sligo County Council and Dáil Éireann elections for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. The group stood other candidates but...
in 1974, and was a member of that group until joining the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
in 1991. He served in Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
from 1992 to 1997. In May 2007, Bree resigned from the Labour Party, citing differences with their pre-electoral pact with Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
, and his clashes with then party leader, Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
.
Political career
He was first elected to Sligo Corporation and Sligo County CouncilSligo County Council
Sligo County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Sligo in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment....
in 1974 and has retained his seat on both authorities at each subsequent election. He was Mayor of Sligo in 2004 and was Chairman of Sligo County Council in 1986.
He is a former Chairman of the Health Service Executive’s Regional Health Forum West, and he is also Chairman of the Western River Basin Advisory Council.
A member of Ireland's radical socialist youth organisation the Connolly Youth Movement
Connolly Youth Movement
The Connolly Youth Movement is an all-Ireland youth organisation affiliated to the Communist Party of Ireland but which is also strongly independent and organises separately from the CPI. Internationally the Connolly Youth Movement is affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic Youth...
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he went on to become National Chairperson of the movement. A founder and former Chairperson and General Secretary of the Sligo/Leitrim Independent Socialist Organisation he has been a lifelong political activist.
He was the Sligo/Leitrim Campaign Director in both Divorce referendum campaigns and he was a lifelong member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement.
He was the Secretary of the National Association of Labour Councillors, President of the Connolly Forum (Sligo) and he is also Secretary of the Gralton Labour History Committee (Leitrim). He is a patron of People's Movement
People's Movement (Ireland)
People's Movement is an Irish pressure group which campaigns on a number of issues such as protecting Irish neutrality and against greater European Union integration...
which campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty.
An active trade unionist he is a former member of the Western branch Committee of the Federated Workers Union of Ireland. He is currently a member of the Sligo branch of SIPTU. He is also a member of the Executive of the Local Authority Members Association.
Involved in numerous voluntary and cultural organisations over the years he is a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...
, a former Sligo County Secretary of Comhaltas, and was Cathaoirleach of the host branch of Comhaltas when Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was awarded to Sligo. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Hawk's Well Theatre and a member of the Board of the Model:Niland Gallery.
The State military files released last year after 30 years which highlighted the whereabouts and activities of suspected 'subversives', included Declan Bree as well as other prominent activists such as Tomás Mac Giolla, Cathal Goulding
Cathal Goulding
Cathal Goulding was Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army and the Official IRA.One of seven children born into a republican family in East Arran Street in the north inner city of Dublin, Goulding was involved as teenager in Fianna Éireann, the IRA youth wing which he joined with his...
, Captain James Kelly and Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh is an Irish republican. He is a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army , former president of Sinn Féin and former president of Republican Sinn Féin.-Early life:...
. Bree in answer to this new notoriety, said 'This reflected the general paranoia of Church and State in the Ireland during the 60s and 70s', and 'Practically everyone active in left wing politics at the time was considered dangerous and subversive', he added.
He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
as an independent candidate at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
but was not elected. He was also unsuccessful at the 1981, February 1982, November 1982, 1987 and 1989 general elections. He was elected to the Dáil as a Labour Party Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency. He lost his seat at the 1997 general election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. He stood again at the 2002 general election but was not elected.
At the 2004 Labour Annual Conference, Bree argued against the pre-electoral pact with the right wing Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
party. In Autumn 2005, Bree, a strong supporter of travellers rights, clashed with Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
over the issue of Traveller accommodation in Sligo.
A 2009 report, commissioned after a walk out by officials of Sligo Borough Council, found that he bullied staff and his behaviour branded as "inappropriate and bullying".
Bree was involved in negotiations to set up the United Left Alliance
United Left Alliance
The United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...
in November 2010 however disagreements arose and he did not join then, however in February 2011 he joined and ran unsuccessfully at the 2011 general election in the Sligo–North Leitrim constituency.