The Green Party wants to restrict the use of election posters to designated locations.
The referendum on the Eighth Amendment took place on 25 May. Campaigners who put up posters urging the electorate which way to vote have until 1 June to take them down.
If they don't, they'll be fined for littering.
The question remains, do posters work or are they simply an eyesore. The Green Party is calling for a limitation on the number of election and referendum posters that can be used and for restrictions to designated sites.
People in Dublin city centre give their thoughts on proposals to restrict the erection of posters to designated areas in cities and towns. Views on the use and effectiveness of posters are mixed. One woman says that she remembers the posters that annoy her. One man acknowledges that posters must work in the same way as advertising. Another woman says that some of the content and messaging on posters in the referendum to repeal Eighth Amendment was quite strong and unsuitable for children. She also feels that a lot of posters are an obstruction for drivers. Another suggestion is that there should be the same amount of posters in each area but less of them.
Deputy leader of the Green Party, Catherine Martin clarifies that the party is not proposing an outright ban on posters but limiting them to designated areas, like they do in other European countries.
We believe it's a cleaner more environmentally friendly way of doing things.
Political scientist at University College Cork, Theresa Reidy, says that posters are a minor irritation for a few weeks every time an election or referendum comes round. She points out that 10 per cent of voters in the exit poll said that posters helped in their decision making. She says, posters can help inform people about the views of specific political parties. She does acknowledge that something needs to be done about the environmental impact of posters.
Posters are really important to be prominently displayed, to remind people that there's actually an event happening and what the key issues are.
Theresa Reidy also points to the significance of posters for new candidates in local elections. They are one of the few ways for them to announce their candidacy. She also says that some restrictions on the use of posters are already in place.
This episode of 'Morning Ireland' was broadcast on 29 May 2018. The presenter is Gavin Jennings. The reporter is Louise Byrne.
