Is it illegal to remove candidate posters especially the Greens

Darsad

It is amazing how much money the greens seem to have at their disposal these days just look at how much are they wasting on deburcha's campaign ( you know the one who cant spell or be bothered to proof read her posters ) Overnight they seem to have taken poll position on every lamp post on my journey to work whats the carbon foot print for that i wonder! Anyway is it illegal to remove these posters or would it be viewed as ones civic duty in keeping your town clean .

Sponge Bob

It is not illegal but by removing them you become entirely personally responsible for ensuring that they are recycled properly ( they are no doubt made of non bio degradeable plastic ...corrugated board... like all the other posters ) .

turgon

Darsad wrote: »

Overnight they seem to have taken poll position on every lamp post on my journey to work whats the carbon foot print for that i wonder!

Maybe its because last night was the first night you could put them up? Wait a week and all the parties will be at it.

This should be the part where I say, maturely and from my high horse, that taking down poster is acting childish. But to be honest every time I see a Kathy Sinnot poster I metaphorically feel in my pocket for a snips.

Bunnyhopper

They were allowed to go up last night, but only after midnight.

The Irish Indo has a report about it that says: "Dublin City Council confirmed it is investigating a number of candidates whom it believes illegally erected campaign posters in public places before midnight last night."

I felt like taking down the Sinn Fein Euro and local election posters that were being illegally erected yesterday at about 7.30pm on public lamp-posts along Coolmine Road in Dublin 15. (I'm sure of the time because I saw it myself and I had just got off a train at Coolmine station.)

What makes it even more annoying is that the Indo also says: "Sinn Fein rejected claims MEP Mary Lou McDonald had erected posters illegally. A party spokesperson said: 'I don't believe they are up.'"

Well, they most certainly were up, and so I'd argue that the Mary Lou campaign did erect posters illegally.

Complaints about posters can seem like trivial quibbling over times and littering legislation, but it's revealing in that it shows yet again that many Irish politicians are more concerned about getting themselves elected than they are about respecting the law or the environment.

elshambo

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

Well, they most certainly were up, and so I'd argue that the Mary Lou campaign did erect posters illegally.

A Shinner involved in an illegal act?
Never heard the likes of it!:rolleyes:

Daithinski

Sponge Bob wrote: »

It is not illegal but by removing them you become entirely personally responsible for ensuring that they are recycled properly ( they are no doubt made of non bio degradeable plastic ...corrugated board... like all the other posters ) .

Are you sure its not illegal??

Have a look here

On the same posting there is this nugget (was posted in may 2007 on politics.ie)

"However, should the Green Party get into power, they will Ban Posters during election time and will only allow 2 posters per candidate situated within the centre of the town."

Hmmm. Surely Grianna Fail weren't telling lies.:eek:

gerky

Darsad wrote:

It is amazing how much money the greens seem to have at their disposal these days just look at how much are they wasting on deburcha's campaign ( you know the one who cant spell or be bothered to proof read her posters ) Overnight they seem to have taken poll position on every lamp post on my journey to work whats the carbon foot print for that i wonder! Anyway is it illegal to remove these posters or would it be viewed as ones civic duty in keeping your town clean .

Sponge Bob wrote: »

It is not illegal but by removing them you become entirely personally responsible for ensuring that they are recycled properly ( they are no doubt made of non bio degradeable plastic ...corrugated board... like all the other posters ) .

Greens unveil environmentally friendly election posters

Issued: 03 May 2009

Statement by Deirdre de Burca

Spokesperson on Health and Children; Defence; European Affairs; Gaeltacht

Dublin MEP candidate leading the way with sustainable campaigning

The Green Party today unveiled a range of environmentally friendly posters – made out of wood from Irish forests – that many of its candidates will be using during the forthcoming local and European election campaigns.

MEP candidate for Dublin Senator Deirdre de Burca said: "On Wednesday I will be putting up thousands of posters around Dublin promoting my campaign to be a Green MEP for Dublin. As an environmentalist it gives me great comfort to know that my posters are sustainable. When I start my new job in Brussels my posters will be turned into loft insulation or wood pellets. I know that I can talk the talk on sustainability and I like being able to walk the walk and run a much greener campaign than any other MEP candidate.

The Green Party Leader and Environment Minister John Gormley TD added: "True to form, many Green candidates will be reusing posters from previous election campaigns. Of those than are getting new posters printed, most have decided to use these new environmentally friendly, wood poster backings which come from sustainable, state-owned forests.

"These posters are not only very recyclable, they are also much more environmentally friendly and better for the Irish economy.

"Posters are normally printed onto backings derived from petrochemical-based plastic 'polyboard' material, often supplied from continental Europe. These Irish wooden posters are biodegradable and can be reprinted; reused in roof lining, flooring underlay, pallet construction and loft insulation; ground into wood pellets; converted into liquid biofuel; or mulched for animal bedding and garden use. All round, they are a better option. I am glad that the Greens are leading the way with environmentally friendly election campaigning," he said.

Election candidates are permitted to put up posters from Wednesday 6 May 2009.

.

Darsad

MEP candidate for Dublin Senator Deirdre de Burca said: "On Wednesday I will be putting up thousands (Is it not Thouands ) of posters around Dublin promoting my campaign to be a Green MEP for Dublin. As an environmentalist it gives me great comfort to know that my posters are sustainable. When I start my new job in Brussels (Cocky but then it is the Greens )my posters will be turned into loft insulation or wood pellets.( Just like their pre Gen election manifesto).

Soldie

Very good. Perhaps Eamon Ryan can then champion the creation of a few jobs to turn the posters into wood pellets.

O'Coonassa

Daithinski wrote: »

Are you sure its not illegal??

Hmm..can anybody clear this up?

KevH

Saw those boards this morning for Brian Crowley with the Super-imposed sunny background with little white clouds. Totally tarnishing the countryside with his political big smile......really want to take them down....might do....under the cover of darkness!!!!!
Have you noticed how small the "Fianna Fail" sign is on them....it's like he's embarrassed that he's a member.....and so he should be......should I take them down....I reckon there is about 10 of them in the village alone.......should I take them down:

-If you want me to TEXT 1
-If you don't want me to TEXT 2
-If you want me to put on a grass hula skirt and do a fancy little dance praising him under the lampost TEXT 3

..........
..........

I'll go and get the skirt!!!!!!!!!!

Kev

Mr. Incognito

Saw all the sinn fein posters going up yesterday at 8 when I was going to the gym in Terrenure.

Pride Fighter

Anybody want to take down and burn Fianna Fail and Fine Gael posters?

I do, but I wont.The Fianna Fail posters are deceptive, they make it appear as if they are independent candidates the FF logo is so small. Very clever.

Sully

Sinn Fein were the first to plaster Waterford City and County from early on last night, including that Ferris woman. I believe some are being taken down by the council as there illegaly placed but others I have been informed wont be because you "must be willing to stand up in court" in order to prosecute.

PS I was told that removing them or vandalisng them was illegal, directly by a few guards.

O'Coonassa

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Anybody want to take down and burn Fianna Fail and Fine Gael posters?

Yes I do but I don't know how much of a fine to expect if I get gripped.

ismynametoolong

Snipeddy snip snip ! I am an avid collector of green Memorabilia particuarly candidate posters and will pay good money aprox 1 c per poster for current
election material. pm me Just think thats a crispy tenner for every thouand De Burca posters !

ninty9er

Darsad wrote: »

It is amazing how much money the greens seem to have at their disposal these days just look at how much are they wasting on deburcha's campaign ( you know the one who cant spell or be bothered to proof read her posters ) Overnight they seem to have taken poll position on every lamp post on my journey to work whats the carbon foot print for that i wonder! Anyway is it illegal to remove these posters or would it be viewed as ones civic duty in keeping your town clean .

I personally think they're a massive waste of money, but it's Deirdre's own money so she can do what she likes with it.

greendom

Why would it be more illegal to remove Green Party posters than any other party's.

Daithinski

The fact is that their poster campaign is marginally less environmentally unfriendly than their competitors.

They still have to be manufactured (causes pollution)

And transported, again this causes pollution unless Eamonn Ryan picks them up in the basket of his bicycle.

Then the feckers are driving around in a car or a van to hang the fecking things up.

Then they have to drive around again to take them all back down again.

Then they have to bring them to the recycling plant to recycle them.

Way to save the earth - you go guys!:P

thebman

Daithinski wrote: »

The fact is that their poster campaign is marginally less environmentally unfriendly than their competitors.

They still have to be manufactured (causes pollution)

And transported, again this causes pollution unless Eamonn Ryan picks them up in the basket of his bicycle.

Then the feckers are driving around in a car or a van to hang the fecking things up.

Then they have to drive around again to take them all back down again.

Then they have to bring them to the recycling plant to recycle them.

Way to save the earth - you go guys!:P

Exactly it would be greener not to put them up at all. They'd be sure to get free media coverage too about not harming the environment by not putting up posters like the other parties.

Is there any real evidence that these posters are effective. I'm not going to vote for a party because of a poster.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

O'Coonassa

thebman wrote: »

Is there any real evidence that these posters are effective. I'm not going to vote for a party because of a poster.

Indeed, it's just an opportunity for sociopathic egotists to see their faces plastered all over the locality.

Sully

I think its more of a reminder of the candidates or a method of convinsing people not very good at politics or much interest at all so they come to the polling day, look at the names and see one they recognise from being plastered all over the place..

thebman

Sully wrote: »

I think its more of a reminder of the candidates or a method of convinsing people not very good at politics or much interest at all so they come to the polling day, look at the names and see one they recognise from being plastered all over the place..

lol that seems like a good reason to ban them TBH.

Scofflaw

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Anybody want to take down and burn Fianna Fail and Fine Gael posters?

I do, but I wont.The Fianna Fail posters are deceptive, they make it appear as if they are independent candidates the FF logo is so small. Very clever.

I was looking at one in the city centre, and not only is the FF logo absolutely tiny, but the orange coloured stripe underneath her picture is red enough that I initially thought she was a Labour candidate!

cordially,
Scofflaw

D-Generate

We received in our door on Tuesday a leaflet for Brian Crowley. It was entirely royal blue with his gurning face and buried in size 6 font at very bottom is the fact that he is a Fianna Fail member. Did someone high up in Fianna Fail say that their best chances at getting seats is to make it appear as if their candidates are all independent FF? Its ridiculous. If the party are receiving funds from tax payers to print these leaflets and campaign posters then surely there should be a legal obligation to declare prominently which party the candidate belongs to.

bushy...

Safety first when cutting cable ties :

http://www.thevetshed.com.au/images/products/YVshSZIBVY-1.jpg

ninty9er

D-Generate wrote: »

If the party are receiving funds from tax payers to print these leaflets and campaign posters then surely there should be a legal obligation to declare prominently which party the candidate belongs to.

It doesn't, parties get taxpayer funding to run organisations, not politics.

ninty9er

D-Generate wrote: »

If the party are receiving funds from tax payers to print these leaflets and campaign posters then surely there should be a legal obligation to declare prominently which party the candidate belongs to.

It doesn't, parties get taxpayer funding to run organisations, not politics.

If it's thebig long one, it's quite clear he's a Fianna Fáil representative. Some candidates have minimised it, but most round these parts haven't bothered as it has to be there and will be seen.

Seth Brundle

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

The Irish Indo has a report about it that says: "Dublin City Council confirmed it is investigating a number of candidates whom it believes illegally erected campaign posters in public places before midnight last night."

IIRC after the last general election, there were several posters hanging well after the election date but the council decided to turn a blind eye! Whats the odds of another blind eye?

bijapos

On a few of the above points.

1. Sorry to say it but ripping them down is theft, and I'd say if Councillor soandso finds out its you the powers that be will be after ya.

2. Know someone in the Greens, she says de Burca is paying for her campaign herself, a fair bit of money too.

3. Greens dont accept corporate donations so this friend reckons they are at a big disadvantage anyway. Most of the campaigns are being funded out of their own pockets as opposed to other parties, I think this is actually true.

4. personally believe that if certain people in the cash strapped councils had any balls they would pull any posters down themselves that are up early, and fine them something healthy like €100 per poster. This would mean eternal banishment to the cleaning supplies store for that council official but so what.

5. Saw Dave Robbins' posters in Donnybrook on MONDAY, tiny A4 page saying something about a meeting, his comment "everybody is at it" in the Indo was appalling at least.

6. The posters will come down after the election, the cable ties stay, makes my blood boil.

stephens770

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

They were allowed to go up last night, but only after midnight.

The Irish Indo has a report about it that says: "Dublin City Council confirmed it is investigating a number of candidates whom it believes illegally erected campaign posters in public places before midnight last night."

I felt like taking down the Sinn Fein Euro and local election posters that were being illegally erected yesterday at about 7.30pm on public lamp-posts along Coolmine Road in Dublin 15. (I'm sure of the time because I saw it myself and I had just got off a train at Coolmine station.)

What makes it even more annoying is that the Indo also says: "Sinn Fein rejected claims MEP Mary Lou McDonald had erected posters illegally. A party spokesperson said: 'I don't believe they are up.'"

Well, they most certainly were up, and so I'd argue that the Mary Lou campaign did erect posters illegally.

Complaints about posters can seem like trivial quibbling over times and littering legislation, but it's revealing in that it shows yet again that many Irish politicians are more concerned about getting themselves elected than they are about respecting the law or the environment.

true,but what can be done?nothing

El Che

ismynametoolong wrote: »

Snipeddy snip snip ! I am an avid collector of green Memorabilia particuarly candidate posters and will pay good money aprox 1 c per poster for current
election material. pm me Just think thats a crispy tenner for every thouand De Burca posters !

The poster prices have actually risen this year. I know one Printer's who is supplying one of the parties and is actually charing 5 Euro/per poster & ties.

Daithinski

bijapos wrote: »

On a few of the above points.

1. Sorry to say it but ripping them down is theft, and I'd say if Councillor soandso finds out its you the powers that be will be after ya.



6. The posters will come down after the election, the cable ties stay, makes my blood boil.

What about if you just took the cable ties?

Dyr

Interestingly, there's filming going on down mount street and the filming company were removing all the election posters from the lamposts..which is illegal I thought..

rubadub

Shay(mless) Brennan is the lowest of the low, both literally and figuratively. David Saul was a close second, both ignoring the dlrcoco guidelines of no posters being below 2.5m (along with most parties).

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown have advised all parties that (among other things);

Quote:
There should be a minimum clearance of 2.5 metres (8ft)
from the lower edge of any poster to ground level and no posters should be placed higher than 6.5 metres (20ft) from the ground.

and

Quote:
Election posters that do not comply with these conditions or that are erected on Council property prior to the declaration of an election will be removed by the Council. In the event of a breach of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 prosecutions may be initiated.

Shay Brennan (and I hold him personally responsible) has a poster on leopardstown road obstructing a cycletrack, which people are legally obliged to cycle on. There is a sign post near the N11 junction with 2 poles, these poles are on the cycletrack and are already dangerous enough. i.e. the poles are closer together than the width of the cycletrack, now there is his poster, about 0.3m off the ground, further obstructing it.

There was talk of forcing them to use party specific cable ties too. The incompetent idiots who put the signs up rarely cut back the cable ties. Then when they rip them down they leave the cable ties. I have been cycling at ~40kph and been struck in the face by cable ties, many are at eye level. If they do have to cut the cable ties to get a poster down they are often left on the cycletracks which again is extremely dangerous at high speed on narrow tyres.

Labour have little red signs on the N11, these are definitely designed with the intent to look like road signs. Its a disgrace, they are small square signs and put at an angle, i.e. like a diamond, just red & white. They look nothing like other posters and are certainly distracting.

1. Sorry to say it but ripping them down is theft, and I'd say if Councillor soandso finds out its you the powers that be will be after ya

Any below 2.5m in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown are classed as litter so I presume they are fair game.


http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2009/DDHWWEDCEC/MAR09.htm

Guidelines Relating to the Display of Election Poster:

1. Election posters should only be erected after an election has been declared and a polling date determined.

2. In accordance with the Litter Pollution Act 1997 election posters and ties must be removed within 7 days after polling date. Failure to do so may result in prosecution. The associated fixing arrangement particularly plastic ties must be removed at the same time the poster is being removed.

3. No adhesive or metal fixings are permitted.

4. All posters should be manufactured from cardboard composites or other recyclable materials.

5. The Party or individual responsible for the poster must be clearly indicated on the poster.

6. Posters must not be erected as follows:

a. on lamp standards with overhead line electricity feed,

b. on traffic signal poles,

c. on bridge parapets, overpasses and on pedestrian bridges

d. on roadside traffic barriers

e. on traffic poles or statutory signage of any type including stop, yield, cycletrack, parking control, etc.

f. on Motorways

g. must not obstruct the view of traffic lights or road signs,

h. must not block or obstruct motorists view of pedestrians, i.e. pedestrian barriers, or railings.

7. There should be a minimum clearance of 2.5 metres (8ft) from the lower edge of any poster to ground level and no posters should be placed higher than 6.5 metres (20ft) from the ground.

8. A maximum of two posters per candidate is permitted on any lamp or standard pole.

9. Political parties/independent candidates are reminded that no claims for damages arising from placing, displaying or removal of their posters will lie with the Council and they may consider it appropriate to take out Public Liability Insurance in this regard.

Election posters that do not comply with these conditions or that are erected on Council property prior to the declaration of an election will be removed by the Council. In the event of a breach of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 prosecutions may be initiated.

After a brief discussion during which John Guckian answered Members queries, the Councillors requested that the Manager examine the possibility of implementing a scheme similar to Dublin City Council’s system whereby posters are removed at a cost to the parties. J. Guckian AGREED to come back to the Members with a report on the feasibility of this scheme in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Bricriu

Darsad wrote: »

It is amazing how much money the greens seem to have at their disposal these days just look at how much are they wasting on deburcha's campaign ( you know the one who cant spell or be bothered to proof read her posters ) Overnight they seem to have taken poll position on every lamp post on my journey to work whats the carbon foot print for that i wonder! Anyway is it illegal to remove these posters or would it be viewed as ones civic duty in keeping your town clean .

She is not the only one who can't spell. You have six spelling mistakes (at least) in your own post.

Seth Brundle

get a load of this from the motors forum...

MarkN wrote: »

Believe it or believe it not, there's a full set of lights behind these posters !


God love the poor child that has a green man to cross that road.............

turgon

Further to the FF poster "furore" I was driving in west cork yesterday and I say this candidates poster with a green background on the main road. I mean all green, so I put it down as a green member.

Then I though of the FF small logo thing so I slowed down. Turns out what the guy hs done is have a deep green background with a slightly lighter shade green logo embossed over it. Wouldn't notice it from a distance.

His running mate was using the standard issue poster on the same poles which made me more annoyed.

Sleepy

I vaguely remember that in Freakonomics, Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt proved that either poster or television advertising were completely ineffective...

nesf

turgon wrote: »

Further to the FF poster "furore" I was driving in west cork yesterday and I say this candidates poster with a green background on the main road. I mean all green, so I put it down as a green member.

Then I though of the FF small logo thing so I slowed down. Turns out what the guy hs done is have a deep green background with a slightly lighter shade green logo embossed over it. Wouldn't notice it from a distance.

His running mate was using the standard issue poster on the same poles which made me more annoyed.

What I find most amusing is that people's party affiliation is on the ballot clear as day and I doubt people would fail to notice who's in FF and who isn't with this being the case.

dublin1968

yes you can take them down, the person who put them up has to prosecute..and they wouldnt..i took down all the inda kenny twats down 2 years ago, spittin image dosent have a patch on that twat...

dublin1968

8 foot from a lamppost...thats the rule regarding the height of an election poster..take the b...strds to court if u catch 1 i the eye..inda kenny wan...kr used to ask his electioneers to post them as low as possible..muppet.

jhegarty

dublin1968 wrote: »

yes you can take them down, the person who put them up has to prosecute..and they wouldnt..i took down all the inda kenny twats down 2 years ago, spittin image dosent have a patch on that twat...

And everything worked out very well for us, didn't it ?

gearoidof

dublin1968, your militancy is a shining example of democracy at work! Do you vote a straight party ticket?

But please please please, above all else, read over your own words before posting?

Strum

This gets good folks.

The posters:

Here is what they said about the original posters...











OI! That's not very environmentally friendly dumping that poster in the Canal!

Strum

I have done my research to cement what I already know about this material...M.D.F. (Medium Density Fibreboard) There is also H.D.F. and L.D.F. (Heavy and Light)
I have been working with this material for about 17 years and know about all the health risks it poses.
Banned in some countries for its carcinogenic properties.

Dangers to health in the use of medium density fibreboard have always been seen as two-fold. The board is composed of minute particles of wood pulp bound with a mixture containing formaldehyde. When the board is sawn,especially with power tools, this formaldehyde is released into the atmosphere along with dust fine as talcum powder. The first health-risk is ingestion of the poison; the counter argument is that tomatoes contain, weight for weight, as much formaldehyde as MDF - but who would eat 56lbs of this fruit in one sitting?

To put it mildly folks, if people breathe in this dust, the formaldehyde in effect embalms your lungs! :shock:

The second health risk is from the dust particles themselves, fine enough to clog the lungs and induce silicosis. This is the same disease brought on by prolonged exposure to coal dust which decimated the mining industry during the last century.

So I found one of the "new environmentally friendly, wood poster backings which come from sustainable, state-owned forests" the other day and lo and behold, guess what they are actually made of???
You guessed it M.D.F.






The printers.........who don't seem to exist BTW




And guess what??? I drove past a new De Burca poster yesterday and what was it printed on???
You guessed it....no you didn't!
Petrochemical-based plastic 'polyboard' material, often supplied from continental Europe!


Some NECK!




So what they say in print and what they are actually doing is bulls*it.
Or else the printer was bulls*ittin the greens as to what they are made of.
Further investigation is needed into the printer, but my point is that they can tell us anything and we take it for granted.


How much would "News of the World" give me for this story?


(c)

Strum

More on the Posters!

This was my moan of the month on a different board.

My May moan. ELECTION POSTERS!

Hasn't there always been a moan about the posters? The cost and the mess etc.
Well these new plastic signs have slowly put printers and signmakers out of business over the last ten years or so.
But look at this mess! How much is this going to cost to clean up???
Melted plastic on the track and grass???
The individuals on the posters should be made clean it up themselves,
after all if they cannot put the posters up high enough out of reach of a lighter they they should be held accountable!


I'll be watching out to see how long this mess stays here and who has to clean it up. :-|

Strum

I forgot to mention that up above it is proposed that the original "new environmentally friendly, wood poster backings which come from sustainable, state-owned forests" be turned into attic insulation...
Like replacing Asbestos with ...well...Asbestos, if you ask me!

Have a nice day!

Darsad

Good Work Strum ! What other lies are these people spouting !I am sure one of the radio stations would be very interested in this !

O'Coonassa

Darsad wrote: »

What other lies are these people spouting !

How dare you suggest that politicians would tell lies to the country, that's absolute slander. :P