Anti-war activists pledge to defy poster ban

Irish anti-war activists have pledged to defy "sinister" new legislation banning the erecting of posters without permission from local authorities.

A coalition of peace groups today claimed the Government is waging a "dirty tricks campaign" against dissenters by introducing Draconian laws "under the cloak of environmentalism".

They claim they are being victimised by this legislation, as posters are their main method of advertising upcoming events.

The row centres around an amendment to the Protection of the Environment Act 1997 that was passed in the Dáil last summer.

Under the original act, posters erected on public property were banned unless they were advertising public meetings or they came under the banner of election canvassing. The amendment altered this to ban all non-election posters unless permission was granted by the relevant local authority.

At a press conference this morning, representatives of the Irish Anti-War Movement, the NGO Peace Alliance, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL), Labour, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party claimed this amendment was "cynical and Draconian" as it was designed to quell anti-Government protest.

They are angry that Dublin City Council have refused them permission to erect thousands of posters advertising a protest against the US occupation of Iraq, planned for March 20th. They are hoping thousands of people will march, both in protest at the US presence in Iraq and at the forthcoming visit of US President George W. Bush to Ireland.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has asked people not to protest against Mr Bush's visit.

The legislation includes postering by all kinds of groups, including trade unions, community groups and residents' associations. Last year, the parents of missing Dublin man, Mr Trevor Deeley, were ordered under the new rules to halt their poster campaign seeking information as to his whereabouts.

Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins said the Government was ensuring that only "the bastions of the establishment",  such as big business, could get their message across due to their massive advertising budgets.

Mr Brendan Butler, of the NGO Peace Alliance, said the Control of Litter Act is "not about the control of litter, it is about the control of dissent."

The ICCL's Ms Tanya Ward argued the legislation was in violation of human rights, Labour's Ms Ivana Bacik claimed it was in breach of the constitutional right of assembly and the Green Party's Mr John Gormley described it as an "outrageous attempt at censorship".

The groups pledged to defy the ban on postering and to fight any fines in the courts. Labour,  Green and Sinn Féin councillors also plan to raise the issue in Dublin City Council this evening.

The fine for summary conviction for litter offences stands at €3,000, and the upper limit of fine for offences heard in the District Court. The maximum daily fine for continuing offences is €600.