LAST UPDATE | 8 Nov
ELECTION POSTERS SPRUNG up around the country ahead of Taoiseach Simon Harris’ visit to Áras an Uachtaráin to dissolve the Dáil today.
Because putting up posters is permitted on the day the polling day is fixed, campaigners were out in the early hours of this morning, so you can expect to see them on your commute.
Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing and Local Government and Heritage, today made an order appointing Friday, 29 November as polling day (and 7am to 10pm the polling hours).
This move gave party members retroactive authorisation to erect the election poster.
Some party members took full advantage of the well-flagged election announcement and were out early to nab prime spots on main roads and near schools and public transport hubs where lots of people will see the posters.
The campaign was already well underway before morning rushour in Dublin city centre, with posters erected for Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and her Dublin Central running mate, city councillor Janice Boylan.
Labour’s candidate, Senator Marie Sherlock, and former TD and MEP Clare Daly of Independents for Change were also well represented this morning in the battleground constituency.
Posters are permitted to be put up on the day the writ is moved by the minister, so erecting them after midnight was allowed since Minister O’Brien signed the order this afternoon.
Posters may be removed within seven days after polling day. Each violation of the law results in a €150 fine.
Meanwhile, the RSA and ESB have both appealed to party members to take care when putting up posters.
The RSA has called on campaign workers to “exercise caution when positioning campaign posters, especially near roadways”.
It has also issued a reminded that it is illegal to place posters in locations that obscure traffic signs, including speed limits, junctions, warnings, roadworks, and directional signs.
Care should also be taken to ensure that all posters are securely fastened so as to avoid hitting cyclists, pedestrians or vehicles.
The RSA is also called on all campaign workers wear high-visibility clothing and not to taken unnecessary risks and for all motorists to take additional care in the coming 24 hours when posters are being erected.
ESB Networks meanwhile issued a reminder that the erection of candidate posters on electricity poles is strictly prohibited and poses a serious safety risk.
It warned that hazardous situations have been created in the past by people erecting posters on live electricity poles and infrastructure.
ESB warned that attaching anything to electricity poles exposes individuals to the risk of electric shock, burns and falling from a height and noted that posters attached to poles have previously caused poles to catch fire and fall.
Additional reporting by Valerie Flynn, Jane Moore, and Diarmuid Pepper
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