Biography
Mark Dearey was first elected as a Green Party Councillor in 2004. He was re-elected to Dundalk Town Council and Louth County Council in 2009 and has achieved considerable success both in his local constituency of Dundalk and with the party on a range of national issues.
On 23 February 2010 he was appointed by An Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann.
Mark first came to the public attention in Co. Louth in 1994 when he and three others from around the county, took a court action against British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), to seek an end to reprocessing at Sellafield. That court action is still on going and the STAD group have continued to highlight the dangers of reprocessing nuclear fuel, the alternatives to reprocessing, and the lack of urgency of Government to make Ireland's case.
In the early 1990's Mark taught in Colaiste Eanna in Dublin before embarking on a new path in organic horticulture where he worked for 9 years. Mark then spotted a business opportunity in the entertainment field and invested in the renowned music venue and bar, The Spirit Store in Dundalk which he still owns and manages. This he combines with his work on Council, where he has delivered a number of significant outcomes.
He has been prominent in his advocacy of community policing and wrote the submission to the Justice Forum on the subject, on behalf of Dundalk Town Council. He has led the work in forming a Drugs Action Group to deal with Class A drug use in Dundalk and is a Director of Turas, the addiction counselling service. He is a founding member of the Newry Dundalk Farmers Market, Chairman of the revitalised St. Patrick's Day Committee and is prominent in his support for small business especially on Transport and Energy issues as well as in Arts provision in the community.
Mark believes that where there is a problem, a practical solution is never too far away ? it is a matter of clear analysis and hard work to make it happen. As a result Mark has a reputation for getting things done. Mark is married to Laura, a radiographer, working in cancer treatment.
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