A complaint has been lodged with Fine Gael alleging that a number of the billboards used in their current advertising campaign are unauthorised, and in some instances are under enforcement proceedings, having been deemed by the local authority to "endanger public safety".
The complaint was filed by Peter Sweetman, an environmental consultant and son of the late Fine Gael minister for finance Gerard Sweetman, with the Fine Gael head office in Mount Street, Dublin.
Having initially specified locations in counties Wexford and Kilkenny, Mr Sweetman has since identified other locations in Waterford city and Co Wicklow, which he also intends to bring to the attention of the party.
At one such site, at Bridge Street in Waterford, where the prismatic billboard currently features an image of Enda Kenny, Mr Sweetman said the structure had a three-year temporary permission. However, after that expired, a retention application was refused in November 2005 on the grounds that it would "endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard" and that it would be "visually obtrusive".
Last month, having again refused another application for the same site, the local authority issued enforcement proceedings. The matter has since been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the site's operators, JC Decaux.
Separately, another application seeking retention of a prismatic sign at Newgate Street, at present featuring a Fine Gael advert, was refused last week on the grounds that it "would be likely to distract drivers" and "endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard".
In other cases where hoardings have been in situ for seven years or longer, the local authority is unable to seek enforcement. However, according to Mr Sweetman, "the fact that a structure is beyond the statute of limitation for legal prosecution under the Planning Acts does not render its continued maintenance or use authorised, or justify its use by any advertiser".
Rebutting the complaint, a spokesman for Fine Gael said: "We've spoken to our media-buying companies and we have received assurances that the sites are fully compliant with the planning regulations."
Catherine Millea for Kilkenny County Council said "it [ a sign at Luffany, Co Kilkenny] is a development which is unauthorised" and that "there are enforcement proceedings ongoing". The matter has also been raised by Mr Sweetman with his constituency Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Ring said that his "expectation is that as a national party, Fine Gael would get a reputable company and that they should have planning permission". However, "if they find out now that the sites haven't got permission, they should withdraw the contract immediately."