Brian Stanley (born January 1958) is an Irish independent politician who has been a TD for the Laois constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2016 to 2020. He was a TD for the LaoisâÂÂOffaly 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.
Stanley unsuccessfully contested the 2002 and 2007 general elections in Laois-Offaly.
Stanley was elected at the 1999 local elections as a member of Portlaoise Town Council, and was re-elected in 2004, and in 2009. 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. His wife, Caroline Dwane-Stanley, is a member of Laois County Council.
In July 2020, Stanley was appointed as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), being the first Sinn Féin TD to hold the office. Following his resignation from Sinn Féin in October 2024, he was replaced by Mairéad Farrell as chair of the PAC.
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. In response, Stanley offered apologies before deleting his Twitter account and asked for speaking time in Dáil Eireann to address the situation. Another tweet made by Stanley about Leo Varadkar was criticised by Micheál Martin, saying the tweet had an "inference of homophobia."
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. Sinn Féin later announced that they had referred the complaint to the GardaÃÂ.
He was re-elected as an independent TD for the Laois constituency at the 2024 general election.