COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 11, 2016

MOTION NO.6

MOTION: Councillor F.N. Duffy

That this Council, investigates designated poster areas instead of postering Ad infinitum, as practiced by French, Italian & Japanese Local Authorities and reports back to the Councillors with a report on same. Further to the report presentation, where the council sees fit, the Environment, Public Realm and Climate Change SPC would consider designated poster areas in South Dublin County and the role out of same. The practice of postering has changed from the days of wall paper paste and cardboard backing being nailed to timber polls, today with modern plastics and cable ties we can see up to 35,000 posters go up over our county. It is unsightly, dangerous to pedestrians / cyclists / road users and this does not include the environmental cost of 35,000 posters. We could be the first Council in Ireland to lead the way this type of environmental and fair system of candidate exposure.

REPORT:

Currently postering is governed by a suite of relevant legislation as follows:

Reforming the way election candidates reach the public may require political will and legislative change.

National legislation permits election posters and does not per se (subject to road safety)put restrictions on where they should be erected, but rather when they can be erected and when they should be removed.

A working group of the former Environment SPC previously developed a voluntary code of practice to which election candidates in Local Elections in Lucan, Clondalkin and Palmerstown agreed not to erect posters in those villages at the request of the local Tidy Towns groups. However there is currently no legislative provision to enforce this voluntary code, and it was only relative to Local Elections.

It is noted that many European countries apply different mechanisms to facilitate communication between election candidates and voters.  Some place limits on the number of posters and where they may be placed, restricting them, for instance, to designated municipal hoardings. It is also known that in some countries candidates get an equal amount of posters and can post in designated areas only. 

If the motion is passed the Environment, Public Realm and Climate Change SPC can further discuss and research options. However as outlined already any meaningful change will require legislative change and Ministerial direction.