Last night (Tuesday), as many political parties skulked around in the dark, frantically staking claim to lamp posts and ESB polls throughout the Howth/Malahide Ward the inevitable argument over the origins of posters and leaflets raised its head. This habitual election subject comes up every time. But where are the questions about origins in between elections? I’m sure that the majority of parties will claim that they bought local, bought Irish but then why does the question always come up? In an effort to seek the best price for my leaflets, I shopped around and found a willing printer in the Coolock industrial estate, Princom who not only beat their competitors but turned around my ideas into a finished product in two working days. My posters were sourced in Dublin 24 via Fine Gael.
As Value for Money becomes a byline for Government Departments politicians must realise the futility in erecting election posters, most particularly those openly flaunting the spirit of the law by erected Vote No. 1 posters on private property well before the 30 day deadline.
Does it satisfy the electorate knowing that their local Councillor or TD has the money to buy posters by the hundred and litter the streets for five weeks? I think not.
Today, Minister Gormley announced to the media that the people he met recognised that the Greens were achieving their policies in Government and yet one of the main thrusts of electoral reform that the green talked about prior to forming government was in fact limiting the number of posters.
I would, as I am sure many candidates would be quite happy to limit the number of posters erected to 30 or 40 if specific locations were agreed or imposed by local authorities. Its time to implement real electoral reform and not just spending limits.