Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 8, line 3, to delete "7" and substitute "10".

The purpose of the amendment is to extend from seven to ten days the period within which candidates must remove election posters to avoid prosecution under the Litter Pollution Act. Polling usually takes place on a Friday or at the weekend and is immediately followed by the count. Many staff and supporters of election candidates are involved in these activities, which are fundamental elements of democracy. Those involved in election campaigns are also involved in the important function of attending post-election counts. Given that voting takes place at weekends and counts take time, it would be reasonable to facilitate candidates who have been through a tough campaign in the name of democracy by giving them ten days to remove posters.

Candidates who have worked to promote the interests of their local community and parties would not allow their posters to remain up beyond the date prescribed in legislation. If the seven-day requirement stands, they will certainly do their utmost to meet the requirement but it would be reasonable, at a practical level, to extend the period to ten days to take account of weekends and counts and to give candidates an opportunity to mobilise their election teams to remove posters.

Candidates, whether defeated or successful, who have campaigned hard, visited homes throughout their respective communities, dealt with many issues and been through the trauma of a count must drag themselves and their teams out after the election to remove posters. The proposal to extend from seven to ten days the period within which this must be done to take account of the weekend which normally follows an election and counting arrangements is a reasonable one. It would be fair to give candidates and party activists more time.