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Election posters erected by Mannix Flynn, a Dublin city councillor since 2009. Rollingnews.ie
Dublin City Council
Election posters in Dublin city could be banned tonight
It follows a unanimous motion by South Dublin County councillors to look at restrictions.
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL will tonight discuss a motion banning election posters from council property – a move that would effectively end the practice across whole swathes of the capital.
Two weeks ago, South Dublin County councillors unanimously asked the council’s environment committee to look at restricting posters to certain areas in the council area, which includes the suburbs of Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Terenure and Templeogue in the capital.
Tonight Dublin City Council, the country’s largest local authority, will vote on banning election posters from council property at a special council meeting.
The proposed measure would allow DCC to designate areas “such as village centres or shopping precincts” for postering.
Anachronistic
The motion is being forwarded by Cllr Paddy Smyth, who told TheJournal.ie that the posters are already banned from ESB poles.
“After having been involved in a local election, you only realise how expensive, futile and utterly pointless these things are when you have print and erect them all.
They’re incredibly anachronistic, and part of an old age of politics, when people would plaster their face on a bit of cardboard.
He said there are other ways to engage the electorate than posters.
We’ve come a long way – we’ve social media, websites, and the fact we still put up mini-billboards everywhere just seems crazy.
“Some politicians have tried not to do it in the past, but they’ve paid for it.”
O’Devaney Gardens
Smyth, who previously called for new Luas trams to be automated, said there are some misgivings as to whether the council can legally bring in by-laws effectively suspending national legislation.
Others contend that it’s only during a council election that people take notice of local politics.
I say to that if local councillors only engage people in the three weeks when we litter the whole city, then we really need to up our game.
“I’m heartened that SDCC unanimously supported their measure, so I’d be interested to see if there is much cross-party support for this motion.”
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