Fine Gael in trouble over posters

Our man in Havana

From todays Irish Times -

Complaint filed with Fine Gael over billboard ads

Ruadhán Mac Eoin

A complaint has been lodged with Fine Gael alleging that a number of
the billboards used in their current advertising campaign are
unauthorised, and in some instances are under enforcement proceedings,
having been deemed by the local authority to "endanger public safety".

The complaint was filed by Peter Sweetman, an environmental consultant
and son of the late Fine Gael minister for finance Gerard Sweetman,
with the Fine Gael head office in Mount Street, Dublin.

Having initially specified locations in counties Wexford and Kilkenny,
Mr Sweetman has since identified other locations in Waterford city and
Co Wicklow, which he also intends to bring to the attention of the
party.

At one such site, at Bridge Street in Waterford, where the prismatic
billboard currently features an image of Enda Kenny, Mr Sweetman said
the structure had a three-year temporary permission. However, after
that expired, a retention application was refused in November 2005 on
the grounds that it would "endanger public safety by reason of traffic
hazard" and that it would be "visually obtrusive".

Last month, having again refused another application for the same
site, the local authority issued enforcement proceedings. The matter
has since been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the site's operators,
JC Decaux.

Separately, another application seeking retention of a prismatic sign
at Newgate Street, at present featuring a Fine Gael advert, was
refused last week on the grounds that it "would be likely to distract
drivers" and "endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard".

In other cases where hoardings have been in situ for seven years or
longer, the local authority is unable to seek enforcement. However,
according to Mr Sweetman, "the fact that a structure is beyond the
statute of limitation for legal prosecution under the Planning Acts
does not render its continued maintenance or use authorised, or
justify its use by any advertiser".

Rebutting the complaint, a spokesman for Fine Gael said: "We've spoken
to our media-buying companies and we have received assurances that the
sites are fully compliant with the planning regulations."

Catherine Millea for Kilkenny County Council said "it [ a sign at
Luffany, Co Kilkenny] is a development which is unauthorised" and that
"there are enforcement proceedings ongoing". The matter has also been
raised by Mr Sweetman with his constituency Fine Gael TD, Michael
Ring.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Ring said that his "expectation is that as a
national party, Fine Gael would get a reputable company and that they
should have planning permission". However, "if they find out now that
the sites haven't got permission, they should withdraw the contract
immediately."

(c) The Irish Times

Hobbes

and your opinion is?

Our man in Havana

Some don't like fine gael so they snitched on them.

Dirk Gently

meh, I thought when seeing the title of this thread that the blueshirts had posters up of naked women or as Bertie photoshopped somehow to make him look ridiculous.

how disappointing that this is not the case. This thread gets a thumbs down from me for raising my hopes up and then letting me down badly.

Time Magazine

I like this. Nobody would give a shite if people weren't now looking for stuff to throw at FG. The country has a fight on its hands, and that's only good.

In terms of the actual issue, FG can't really be held responsible if they got a company to organise it.

lostexpectation

the planning permission for those billboard signs is allover the place if they have any at all

segadreamcast

Er, surely the responsibility is with the billboard operators JC Decaux? FG are only renting out space, isn't that the deal?

Our man in Havana

I think it is just someone trying to make FG look bad by saying they use dodgy companies.

besty

I actually like the posters I must say! The same could be said for many of the people on boards *




* I'll get my coat.

Our man in Havana

Whenever i see the "I will sack the wasters of taxpayers money" I always chuckle to myself. The first time I saw it I nearly crashed the car balling with laughter.

Tricity Bendix

Angry Banana wrote:

In terms of the actual issue, FG can't really be held responsible if they got a company to organise it.

It could (but probably shouldn't) be seen as indicative of Mount St's organisational abilities. PPARS was the government's fault, even though it was the consultants who screwed up.

Sparks

Meh.

Lemming

NoelRock wrote:

Er, surely the responsibility is with the billboard operators JC Decaux? FG are only renting out space, isn't that the deal?

This would be the same company that FF and Labour and the Greens and the chuckies and every other organisation and/or company uses eh? Someone's been up burning the midnight oil looking for mud to sling I see. Just a shame they weren't awake at the time ...

jjbrien

Bond-007 wrote:

Whenever i see the "I will sack the wasters of taxpayers money" I always chuckle to myself. The first time I saw it I nearly crashed the car balling with laughter.

Actually the tax payer is not paying for these billboards its coming from FG party funds not the tax payer.

gilroyb

The suggestion that pictures of Enda Kenny would distract anyone is ridiculous. The only danger is that these billboards may cause more drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

It's unusual for a 2D picture of a person to actually add depth to their personality. Why is Enda trying so very hard to avoid my vote?

Widgeon

It says something for the perceived threat that FG poses to the incumbents that this matter makes such an impact. FG must be laughing their sides sore with all the publicity they are getting- there's no such thing as bad publicity:

road_high

gilroyb wrote:

The suggestion that pictures of Enda Kenny would distract anyone is ridiculous. The only danger is that these billboards may cause more drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

It's unusual for a 2D picture of a person to actually add depth to their personality. Why is Enda trying so very hard to avoid my vote?

And presumably a poster of the wonderful Bertie and his team of clowns would distract you then??

gilroyb

mfitzy wrote:

And presumably a poster of the wonderful Bertie and his team of clowns would distract you then??

I think all poster ads with the various leaders are silly. That said, I think reminding people that Enda Kenny is FG leader is especially silly.