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A poster advertising Gay Mitchell's European Parliament campaign in 2009. Fine Gael says it's likely to use posters in his presidential campaign - despite calls for a poster-less campaign. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Race for the Áras

Fine Gael and Labour dismiss appeals for poster-free Áras campaign

Spokespersons for Gay Mitchell and Michael D Higgins say their parties don’t intend on dropping posters for October’s election.

BOTH FINE GAEL and the Labour Party have disregarded calls to ditch their election posters for this October’s presidential election – saying posters were likely to play a part in their candidates’ campaigns.

The comments come after broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh – who yesterday ruled himself out of the running for the election – called for candidates not to put up posters in the run-up to the October 27 election.

Though independent candidate Seán Gallagher said he would be willing to shun the posters for his campaign, spokespersons for Gay Mitchell and Michael D Higgins told TheJournal.ie that they would almost certainly be erecting posters.

“We intend to conduct a postering campaign,” a Labour spokeswoman said. “Posters are a traditional part of the electoral process here. They play a significant role in creating election awareness among the public.”

Fine Gael said that while it had “yet to make detailed campaign plans… it’s hard to imagine a national election without some form of postering.”

Labour added that while the Litir Um Thoghchán – the promotional letter sent to all registered voters on behalf of each candidate – was paid for by the state, it was up to each candidate’s campaign to pay for their postering campaigns.

Former Dragons’ Den investor Gallagher had called on candidates to share a communal Litir Um Thoghchán in order to save public funds.

A spokesperson for Mary Davis had not returned contact by the time of publication.

Read: Gallagher endorses call for poster-free Áras campaign >

Read: TheJournal.ie‘s full coverage of the Race for the Áras >

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