Election posters before an election - big deal or not?

[David Cochrane]

Is putting up campaign posters on lamposts and the like a big deal, if candidates are breaking the law (and they are!) by putting them up - why is nothing being done about it?

Mary O'Rourke is doing it, a number of other FF candidates are doing it along the N6 as well, I've seen some FGers at it too, and a PD in Galway East.

So a question for Tuesday morning, putting up election posters before an election has been called, despite it being in contravention of the Litter Acts, is it a big deal? Talk to Politics.ie.......

[NM_123]

They should be fined for littering and consistent re-offenders should be brought to court, if not banning them from postering completely for their next campaign.

[BarryW]

Finian McGrath was quoted in several papers a few weeks ago, wailing about awful Ivor Callely putting up all sorts of pseudo-election posters around Dublin North Central.

This morning I arose to find lots of Finian McGrath posters in Clontarf and Fairview.

You have to admire McGrath - he's consistent in his hypocrisy, if nothing else

[Kerrygold]

Is putting up campaign posters on lamposts and the like a big deal, if candidates are breaking the law (and they are!) by putting them up - why is nothing being done about it?

Mary O'Rourke is doing it, a number of other FF candidates are doing it along the N6 as well, I've seen some FGers at it too, and a PD in Galway East.

So a question for Tuesday morning, putting up election posters before an election has been called, despite it being in contravention of the Litter Acts, is it a big deal? Talk to Politics.ie.......

I don't think the law states when election posters can be erected. It does say that they have to be down within 7 days after polling day.

[David Cochrane]

They can only be up *during* a campaign as far I'm aware - and taken down within a certain period. If there's no election called, they are litter.

[krayZpaving]

The law says "when an election is imminent". What "imminent" means is open to definition. Some Councils, like Dublin City, say it's when the writ has been moved. Others, like Limerick City & County, say that the election is now imminent so posters can go up.

[Kerrygold]

The law says "when an election is imminent". What "imminent" means is open to definition. Some Councils, like Dublin City, say it's when the writ has been moved. Others, like Limerick City & County, say that the election is now imminent so posters can go up.

It's a grey area. Kerry County Council stated the is traditional for posters to go up when an election is called but that there is nothing legally to prevent posters going up before it is called.

[cyberianpan]

Why are politicians given special privileges to put up posters at all ? Whay aren't they forced to use regular billboards ? At least regular billboards are subject to planning laws & they are forced to preserve visual amenity of areas. Do we seriously think that smiling photos with a slogan inform democratic debate (and thus can violate regular rules) ?

These posters are an eyesore & should be stopped outright, at all times - classic example of self-serving abuse of legislative process by TD's.

cYp

[rockofcashel]

They've been up all over South Tipp for weeks. Except the Sinn Fein ones, because we've been given a directive to comply with the law. Which we are doing.

Shame the rest of the parties don't comply with the law.

[Munion]

Most of the posters are advertising "meetings" and are not asking for you to vote for the candidate.

Therefore they're technically information posters about public "meetings" and not election posters.

That's my understanding anyway. Soon as Bertie makes his mind up i'm sure we'll all be out competing for the best lamposts.