Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I welcome this Bill and commend the Members from the Green Party who have brought it forward. The plastering of our towns and cities with blown-up images of incumbent and prospective politicians has long been the most immediately apparent hallmark of an election. Even this tradition must be examined as we strive to be more conscious of the waste of materials and energy and to move beyond a throw-away society.

A general election can see as many as 200,000 posters produced. Laying these down head to toe would create a long line of plastic that could stretch across the island from Galway Bay to Dublin city centre. In 2018, a survey commissioned by the "Claire Byrne Live" show and undertaken by Amarach Research showed that 77% of Irish people thought the use of posters during election campaigns should be scrapped. Additionally, the aesthetics of the practice are questionable. I do not care how attractive candidates are, I do not want to see them on every lamppost for a two-mile stretch on a main road.

Recent years have seen more and more community associations and residents groups around the country pushing for poster-free zones in their areas. It is not hard to see why. Many people view these posters as something of a visual blight on our neighbourhoods, and I doubt there are many who feel strongly on the other side of the proposition. Ireland is recognised internationally for the beauty of its towns. We recognise this with laws to preserve architecture and open spaces. Surely we can find a way to ensure such protection exists during election cycles as well. Yet, these posters serve a vital role in ensuring candidates' visibility, particularly for new and upcoming political hopefuls. If we were to ban posters altogether, it would make the already hard job of getting into politics almost impossible for many people. It could be the case that voters might see a candidate's name for the first time on the ballot paper. This is certainly something we would like to avoid in the interests of holding free and fair elections.

It will be interesting to see what regulations the Minister opts for under this proposed legislation. We must strike a balance between the visibility of candidates on one hand and sustainability and respect for local areas on the other. It is particularly hard to run in elections as an independent candidate, whether those are local or national campaigns. I refer to the cost of running for election. I would welcome a ban on posters, but I am already established. People know my face and my trademark glasses. People know who Sharon Keogan is. It is hard for other independent candidates, and it will also be similarly difficult for people coming into politics in future, to get known unless a candidate's face is known to the public. Social media alone does not do that. We cannot rely on social media only. Designating an area in every town and village for advertising is possibly the way to move forward. I look forward to seeing how the Minister of State acts in this regard.