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

Mossy Monk

not specifically related to Waterford City. i do see that a thread is open on this on politics so this will be closed