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IN A FEW months election posters will be displayed as far as the eye can see in cities, towns and villages across Ireland.
All candidates have to obey certain rules when it comes to erecting and removing posters.
For example, under law posters should only be erected for a certain specified time period before an election – either 30 days before the poll date or from the date the polling day order for the election has been made, whichever is the shorter period of time.
All posters are supposed to be removed within seven days of polling day.
This doesn’t always happen and is often a bone of contention after elections.
Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone has called for a limit on the number of posters allowed per candidate: 400.
At present, there is no cap. A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment said the number of posters erected is “a matter for candidates” that will be impacted by financial restrictions.
Noone said €19,000 was the average cost per candidate for the 2011 General Election campaign, “much of which would have gone on posters”.
She will be contesting the next election for Fine Gael in the Dublin West constituency, alongside Health Minister Leo Varadkar.
Noone said a poster limit “would level the playing field and, ultimately, be in line with what people are always calling for”.
In the next election, with new parties having launched in the last two months and more independent candidates than ever, you are realistically looking at ten different party groupings that will be competing in a number of constituencies.
“This will bring huge competition, pressure to spend and – also – a lot of posters. With a conservative estimate of 1,000 posters per candidate, you could be looking at 10,000 posters per constituency, without including multiple candidates from the same party.
Not everyone agrees
Fianna Fáil is not on board with the idea, with a party spokesperson telling TheJournal.ie it’s “too late” for new rules to be brought in as many candidates have already printed their posters.
“Fianna Fáil will be complying fully with the current regulations on election posters,” the spokesperson said.
A representative for Sinn Féin noted that it supports cross-party agreement in some constituencies that certain areas, such as accident black spots and town centres, should be designated poster-free.
“The party is also in favour of seeing fewer election posters used during elections due to the high cost, which may bar entry to smaller campaigns, and the environmental impact involved.
However, due to the size of some constituencies relative to one another, an arbitrary limit may not be the answer to the problem. 400 posters in an area such as Dublin Central would have a far greater concentration than the same amount in the new Donegal electoral area for example.
The party spokesperson added that Sinn Féin hopes election posters will “gradually be replaced as the main platform for raising awareness” by social media and other outlets.
Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creigton told us: “Arguably it would be better for big parties if there was a cap because we have new candidates who never stood for election before who need to get their name and their face out there.
I do think there is an issue with littering across constituencies and I think that it is reasonable that some form of cap be put in place, but that would have to be negotiated, I believe, between all of the parties.
“I think if the government is going to bring forward proposals in that regard they will need to consult with all political parties, not just the ones that they tend to pick and choose from the opposition.”
Labour did not respond to a request for comment about the issue.
What do you think?
Should there be a cap of 400 posters per candidate?
Additional reporting Cliodhna Russell
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No ‘do away with them altogether’ option?
The problem with banning posters altogether is that it will give a distinct advantage to the incumbents.
Posters are very important for first time candidates as a means of gaining name & face recognition
I know people say that posters are unnecessary and don’t get people elected. While it is true that posters won’t win an election for a candidate, not having them might lose it. If they didn’t make a difference, then candidates wouldn’t be spending money on them.
I find election te quite exciting, and posters definitely add to the buzz. They’re only up for 5 weeks once every few years, so I really don’t see the problem.
love the gurning, priceless!
Why Niall? Surely those challenging for seats should be informing people of their policy, rather than wasting time putting up posters?
Incumbents always have an advantage posters or not. People don’t like the risk of change… No poster will change that.
Should have colour coded cable ties as a rule. Candidates take the posters down, but the lampposts are still festooned with the ugly cable ties from previous elections.
Ban Cable Ties.
Could I see these “making a difference statistics” that political parties must have in order to convince them to spend so much money on posters ?
My thoughts exactly. One of the nightmares of every election is driving past posters of grinning gargoyles every day. The posters are unsightly and litter IMHO. As a concession they might be allowed on hoardings and bus shelters.
Exactly :-)
They’re an eyesore! I read the news and make my voting decisions based on what I read somebody’s face on a poster or a leaflet or the handshake at the door isn’t going to change that!
Not sure about banning them, but after the Marriage Referendum I reckon they should be limited numbers and there should be no posters near schools. Some of the posters left a lot to be desired, shall we say? If there is no electioneering allowed on the day of voting near the polling station, then it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to not allow electioneering near schools. Children can’t vote.
Personally, I do not believe they should be allowed at all, they are unnecessary expense and if politicians of whatever hue are doing their job they will be known to the electorate anyway. I hate to see the posters all over the place and especially when I look at someone and think whose that never seen them before in my life which means guess what they are not out their doing clinics or communities until an election is on the horizon (with a few exceptions).
Yes they’d make me vote the opposite way such a waste
Haha, 5 weeks? Officially yes, but wait until you see them still up for 1-2 months, cluttering on the ground too when people mess with them.
Limit them based on popularity and per party/candidate (for independents). They’re a waste of money as far as I’m concerned and they give an unfair advantage against low-funded candidates.
Posters should be banned altogether.
Agreed. And anyway, who are the fools who decide on who to vote for by looking at a poster? Does policy not matter to these people? Are they voting on looks?
100% agree I dont wanna look at their stupid fockin faces, if youre considering voting for someone the rational thing to do is research them, only a lazy idiot wouldnt.
No posters would be my choice.
How about making it a criminal offence to obscure road signs, junctions, pedestrian crossings and safety signs. It should also be an offence to position a poster where the bottom edge is less than 7 feet from the ground in any pedestrian foot way.
Many of these people have absolutely no idea the chaos much of their postering creates.
Why not just ban them. That way voters will need to put a little effort to know whose running and a lot of the uneducated filler votes mightnt get cast and our democracy will be more rational.
I’d rather of they sent me an email during their term outlining what they’ve done in respect of their election promises. the flurry of posters and photos ops at election time, is in stark contrast to great vanishing that occurs when they get voted in.
The problem is a person who will no doubt end up being a backbencher in one of the major political parties knows full well that they can’t deliver on the majority of promises they make. Always remember those famous Labour words: “Sure, isn’t that what you do during an election?”
“The state — or, to make matters more concrete, the government — consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can’t get, and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time it is made good by looting ‘A’ to satisfy ‘B’. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advanced auction on stolen goods.”
― H.L. Mencken
if you have been in the dail for the previous 5 years and think a poster will get you elected there is something wrong with your political mind
Yes, the limit should be 0. They’re an eyesore and colossal waste of money.
Yes as they cost €8 – €12 each. All added up that a lot of waisted money.
Jeeze lads.. The stories are pure cat this morning. Is there really nothing going on in the world in the last few hours worth of a mention. Next it’ll be “which pant leg do you remove first and 20 things it says about you “
wait 5 mins there will be an anti sf/ ind. story
That’s a great title for a story, you should write it with some awesome stats too.
A waste of paper, everyone knows who they are going to vote for, posters dont make any difference
It appears they do. AAA littered Dublin South West. And it worked
How about the election commission put together a booklet of all candidates and personal and party policies in your constituency and send it to every home so that there is only one government postage fee to your house, you get all the information on every candidate and every party an policy.. It’s like your playbook, you read it thoroughly as you like and make an informed decision on who to vote for.. Cap on posters, (no unfair advantage to the bigger parties) cap on the info you receive (all in one booklet) and easily accessible.. You could also download it to your smartphone etc.. Simple, all your election info in one booklet..
Sean, best suggestion yet. Can’t see any politician supporting it though; far too sensible. Oh, and think of the poor poster printers. Reduced to penury at a stroke.
Fantastic idea, Sean Babylon – this works for every referendum and would be so much better for the environment, and my nerves!
Can we limit them to zero posters?
Yes but the big parties won’t agree
Definitely need a cap on them. You always see 5 posters of a particular candidate a couple of feet apart just in case you forget who they are in the blink of an eye and regulations on where they can be placed so they aren’t causing an obstruction.
Michael Healy Rae will be delighted with the cap!!!!
I think zero should like a good number.
They should not be allowed at all.
Is it not aganst the law to false advertise?
Complete waste of money and resources, and they never take down the cable ties either ! none please.
One each should suffice!
Some entrepreneur in the ESB should start a rent a pole campaign. Each segment of the poll should be separately priced to reflect its level of visibility.
Also there might be the possibility of hiring drone mounted posters at a cost per hour!!
Please this is a great idea .. Limit the God dam things … There so stupid and serve no one only politicians …
Please force these guys to get creative,
How we choice out politics has to improve … Cause the ones we hav are not wort there wages ( most of Em )
Now watch this idea not take flight … Fate play to the author of this article though great idea
Why are we always looking to limit or ban things in this country? We’re not happy unless we’re planning to ban something.
Ah there’s the devils advocate now.
Like banning muslims and immigration?
candidates should pay a flat fee and the county council should erect a few billboards with a list of candidates and their pictures. I live in dublin South west and we were absolutely littered with posters, mostly from Anti Austerity Alliance. however no matter how much people want less posters the big political parties will never allow it. and the truth is that people vote for the parties which litter most
it’s ridiculous the number of these yolks sprawled on every bloomin lamp , sometimes numerous ones!!
A reasonably sensible and cost free reform and surprise surprise lucinda is against it.
Ban all posters. They are just so much unsightly rubbish.
They should be banned altogether, who decides on who to vote for based on a poster. Its their policies they need to get across, not their faces which are air brushed and you wouldn’t recognise them anyway from poster when they knock on door
Another waste of tax payers money!!
Ban them completely. No need for them due to the advance of the internet. Apart from being incredibly wasteful in materials and finance, they’re not what you’d call aesthetically pleasing on the eye.
And the same goes for the election posters. ;-)
Why not set up a company “Irish Election Posters” which charges each politician €160 per poster. If anyone refuses to pay then take them to court for non payment. We should either see an increase in taxation revenue or a decrease in election posters. Would also create jobs so there is a bonus.
As a past Town Councillor I proposed a motion that posters be restricted in numbers and also in locations, to permit them only at entrances to each town as in some European countries. Rejected by my town council members and by government of the day. I got successfully elected without any posters in the past.
Where’s the option to vote “No restriction on democracy please”.
Gway with your “cap” thanks.
Designated boards in certain locations with space for each candidate ( the space being of equal size ) just like they do it Japan, see here for an example :
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6gpFvnHjCw/Uese_-l8RjI/AAAAAAAANes/HYsdeIPvHwM/s400/photo-11.JPG
Why are they posted in front of peoples homes?
A green tax might be better as someone who removes them too… They are suppose to anyway but do they, no.
They make awful toilet paper…
have your say