It may seem like there's no escape from elections in Dublin, but confirmation that St Stephen's Green is a haven for more than ducks was provided yesterday when the Progressive Democrats had their posters removed from its vicinity.
The posters - relating to the citizenship referendum - said Yes. The Office of Public Works, which supervises park by-laws, said no. A PD spokeswoman said the offending items had been placed on lampposts outside the railings. But under a 1962 by-law, St Stephen's Green includes the surrounding footpaths, as far as the kerb.
Somebody with a good view of the green is Progressive Democrat TD Tom Parlon, whose offices - as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW - overlook it. He too confessed ignorance that the footpaths were part of the territory, but congratulated his OPW staff on doing their job. Of the PD election workers, he quipped: "I think they picked the only poles that Royston wasn't on."
The OPW has warned all maintenance staff to remove any posters in the area of the park. "Stephen's Green is a historic property," a spokeswoman said, "and it is not appropriate or possible to put up posters on any national monument."
The PDs' mistake would not be repeated, Mr Parlon added: "The people in headquarters are very repentant. I've instructed our office here to send them over a copy of the by-laws."
Meanwhile, as poster coverage reaches saturation point, the Green MEP Patricia McKenna has called for limits on the numbers each candidate can use. Warning that public annoyance could provoke demands for a complete ban, she said this would be bad for democracy.
"An outright poster ban would affect small parties and independents disproportionately. They don't accept corporate donations and don't have huge financial resources. They can't afford to buy billboard advertising and other alternatives. Posters are necessary to help get the message across, but some control is obviously necessary," she said.
