FIANNA FAIL launched its policy document on the environment on Tuesday. It takes a tough line on illegal advertising hoardings which, it says, "will be dealt with in a robust manner" calls for existing sites to be licensed and suggests on-the-spot fines for transgressors.
The very next day, however, Sean Kenny, Labour deputy for Dublin North East, accused FF of using an unauthorised hoarding at Howth Junction DART station. The huge billboard, he said, meant that people living across, the road in Donaghmede had the large face of Bertie Ahern looking into their living rooms. It was another example of "FF's cavalier attitude towards the planning process".
Calling on FF to remove it, Deputy Kenny said he had been in contact with Fingal County Council planning department and with the US-owned advertising company, TDI, and they had both confirmed that no planning permission had been granted for the site.
FF replied that the Howth Junction hoarding had been there for some time and the party had been assured by the ad agency, Arks, that everything was "above board" as stations are exempted.
Objectors argue that under the 1994 Planning Regulations the exemption only extends to advertisements "within a railway station.. . which are not readily visible from outside the premises". Mr Kenny says the Howth Junction billboard, 20 feet by 10 feet, was clearly not in this category as it was "silhouetted against the skyline".
The FF spokesman then asked about the big sign stretching across the N4 near Lucan wishing Mayo luck in a recent match which, he said, Minister Enda Kenny had put up. "I'm sure there was no planning permission for that."