A group which wants the Constitution amended to allow referendums to be triggered by signatures of 50,000 voters is seeking High Court orders preventing Dublin City Council from removing posters endorsing its campaign.
The Reinstate 48 Initiative wants to restore article 48 of the 1922 Irish Free State constitution which allowed referendums be called once 50,000 signatures were gathered. Article 48 was removed in 1928 and was not included in the 1937 Constitution.
As part of its campaign, the group spent €30,000 putting up six different posters at various locations and on a social media campaign. It wants voters to support those candidates who have endorsed the campaign.
The court heard more than 30 candidates in the general election have pledged support to the initiative, including Independent TD Clare Daly; Independent councillor Christy Burke; all Green Party candidates, including leader Eamon Ryan; and candidates from People Before Profit, Direct Democracy Ireland and various other Independents.
Council removal
The group claims the council has been removing its posters and wants orders to restrain it from doing so.
Group chairman Stephen Mulcahy, of Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, said the posters relate directly to the election campaign as the group wished to highlight its concerns about politics. The council appears to believe only parties or candidates can put up posters during the election.
When the matter came before the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Hanna granted an ex parte application (one side only represented) by lawyers for Mr Mulcahy, chairman of the R48 Initiative, leave to bring judicial review proceedings against the council.