Martin’s politics posters motion comes unstuck
A motion calling for an outright ban on political posters in County Wexford from April until September was defeated.
Cllr Martin Murphy brought a motion calling on the Government to ban all posters during the tourist season in order to avoid damaging the appearance of the county’s towns, villages and countryside.
Cllr Murphy said there are other ways, including social media, for councillors to get their message across, without the need to erect posters on poles across the county. ‘It’s about time we brought this blight to an end. Back in the day there was no other way but times have changed.’
Cllr Malcolm Byrne said posters would be displayed in defined areas within the county. Cllr Robbie Ireton said: ‘Practically it wouldn’t work. There are loads of festivals going on. Do we take away their posters as well.’
Cllr Ireton said it would be unfair to discriminate against councillors and TDs.
Cllr David Hynes said posters give an advantage to big parties who have bigger pockets at budget time. Cllr Byrne said Cllr Hynes was a big party member. Councillors argued that at a time when it is difficult to get the public to vote, posters get the public to engage in politics.
Cllr George Lawlor said there are very strict guidelines regarding posters, which have to be taken down within a week of an election concluding.
‘If you contrast that with circuses who cellotape them to poles and never take them down. With the referendum they went up and were taken down the day after. If we start eroding our own political arena I think we are on to a loser.’
Cllr Willie Fitzharris said he has never heard a tourist complain about political posters. ‘Some of the visitors are more exercised with our politics than we are. We are struggling trying to get people into a polling booth.’
Cllr Tony Dempsey said posters elicit engagement from the county’s youth who are otherwise uninterested in politics.