This article is from page 6 of the 2011-02-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A CHANGE to the Litter Pollution Act proved a potentially costly lesson to two Clare candidates.
Independent candidates Cllr James Breen and Jim Connolly were told to remove their election signage or face a hefty fine from Clare County Council.
The warning came following a reminder being issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stating that changes to legislation last year meant that election posters could not be erected until after the Taoiseach went to the President and dissolved the Dáil.
Under an amendment to the Litter Pollution act in 2009 the time period from which posters can be put up commences on the date of the order for the holding of the poll or 30 days prior to the date of the poll, whichever is the shorter period.
Both candidates said they were unaware to the changes to this legislation when they began work on their poster campaign.
Mr Connolly was particularly critical of the council’s speed and eagerness to implement this legislation.
He told