'Poster-free election is like an All-Ireland with no flags'
Sinn Féin's Gerry Murray said posters create an atmosphere at election time.
Several councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District want the upcoming Local Elections to be poster-free.
Fine Gael Cllr Tom Connolly, who put forward the motion, said councillors adopted a similar motion in Claremorris at the last elections in 2019 and it was a huge success. He said election posters are "unsightly" and there is also the danger they will be blown down in a storm.
Councillor Patsy O’Brien said election posters were erected in Claremorris on the day of the 2019 Local Elections. However, he added that he had "no problem" with the proposal.
“If we do a deal on it and we agree to it then we should do it,” he added.
Cllr Michael Burke said if a deal was agreed he would honour it. He had not been a sitting councillor when the last agreement was struck.
“It is wonderful when you are a sitting councillor for a long time and you can play ducks and drakes all you want but I was not here so I did not give or break any commitment,” he added.
Cllr Burke also said councillors should not tell any new candidate what to do.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Murray said the motion is not binding and he believed that there isn't the same election atmosphere when posters there are no posters.
“It is like having an All-Ireland or a county final with no flags up,” he added.
