Fianna Fáil facing fine as Jim Gavin poster remains in place seven weeks after presidential election
Darragh Mc Donagh
Fianna Fáil is facing a fine under the Litter Pollution Act after a large poster promoting its failed presidential candidate Jim Gavin was spotted in Galway City – almost seven weeks after the election.
Under the anti-littering legislation, election candidates may only erect posters 30 days prior to polling day, and must remove them within seven days after the election.
Candidates in the presidential election, which took place on October 24, were therefore required to have removed all of their posters by midnight on October 31at, and could face fines of €150 for each poster that remains up after that date.
Jim Gavin sensationally pulled out of the campaign on October 5th following reports that he owed a former tenant €3,300. A report into the process behind the selection of Jim Gavin, which was commissioned by Fianna Fáil, is due to be published before Christmas.
The disastrous campaign has heaped pressure on Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin, who has insisted that “very comprehensive due diligence” was done on Mr Gavin prior to his selection.
However, Mr Martin conceded that the issue involving a former tenant was “probably buried somewhere in the recesses of his mind”.
The poster promoting Jim Gavin for president is located at a busy junction on the approach to Galway City from the east and north of the county.
It is secured to a fence near the entrance to the Blackrock Health Galway Clinic.
A spokeswoman for Fianna Fáil undertook to investigate the matter yesterday (Tuesday) but did not provide any comment, and the poster remained in place this morning (Wednesday).
A number of local authorities published advice for candidates prior to the presidential election, recommending that they inform all agents and volunteers of the requirement to remove posters within seven days of polling.
They warned that litter warden teams would be patrolling and had been instructed to note the location of any remaining posters. Local authorities can remove posters and issue on-the-spot fines of €150 for each offence.
