Céad Míle Fáilte
Welcome to both regular and new users and thank you for visiting my site. The site continues to evolve, so if you’re looking for some specific information that isn’t posted on the site please don’t hesitate to contact me at my office in 1, High Street, Sligo. Phone: 071-9145490 or Email: dbree@eircom.net
So who is Declan Bree…
Well, in short I’m a political activist who has represented the people of Sligo and Leitrim for over three decades. As a committed socialist I have consistently used my position as a community activist and as an elected representative to serve the interests of ordinary people.
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A message from Declan Bree…
I believe that we are at a crossroads in Irish politics and the route we choose now will have a lasting effect on the lives of our families and future generations. It is time that the interests of ordinary people were put at the heart of our political and economic system, rather than the profits of private financial institutions.
The Irish people have been betrayed by political and business elites. We must fight to reverse the savage cuts imposed on us by the establishment parties so they could bail-out the banks. We must defend our public services, invest in health and education in addition to job creation. No longer should our young people be taught in substandard buildings, our health service be so terribly inefficient or our graduates and workers have to emigrate to make a living.
I will continue to use my position as an elected representative to oppose the austerity measures the establishment parties endorse and to work tirelessly in the interests of ordinary people, not banks or financial speculators.
COUNCILLOR DECLAN BREE
Current News / Issues
Council Votes for Ban on Fracking
Declan Bree
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING or “fracking” is a technique for extracting gas from deep within shale rock and coal beds. The process involves using high pressure to inject massive volumes of water, plus sand, plus chemicals into dense rock formations, said Cllr Declan Bree, when he proposed a motion at this months meeting of Sligo County Council calling for a ban on Fracking.
"The outgoing Government awarded licences to a number of companies to explore for commercial gas in the Lough Allen basin and the Clare basin. The Lough Allen Basin covers parts of counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Mayo, Monaghan, Tyrone and Roscommon." he said.
"The dangers that fracking poses to water quality, to human safety and to the general environment has been highlighted in the media and by environmentalists in many parts of the world.
"France has banned the use of fracking and last year the Quebec Provincial government put a stop to Shale gas exploration in Quebec until a full environmental study can be done on the controversial drilling technique. Six months ago New Jersey became the first State in the USA to ban fracking." Cllr Bree said.
"In a study requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, scientists conclude and I quote that "at a time when sustainability is key to future operations it can be questioned whether the injection of toxic chemicals in the underground should be allowed, or whether it should be banned as such a practice would restrict or exclude any later use of the contaminated layer... and as long-term effects are not investigated."
"What we in Ireland need now, is not to indulge the greed of the oil and gas companies who will do anything to get further profit out of the ground, What we need is investment in clean, safe and sustainable energy that can provide for people’s needs and protect the environment.
"If we have significant gas resources underground, it will only go up in value over time, and we can surely wait until such time as there is an acceptable and environmentally safe method of extracting it."
Cllr Bree proposed the following amended motion "That Sligo County Council calls on the government to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing /fracking and that the Council commence the process of amending the County Development Plan so as to ban the process of hydraulic fracturing/fracking in County Sligo." The motion was seconded by Cllr Sean MacManus and was unanimously adopted.