New Laois councillor keen to tackle Tidy Towns over election poster ban

A newly coopted Laois councillor who lost out in his two past attempts to be elected, wants an end to election poster bans in Laois towns and villages by Tidy Towns groups.

Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Buggy finally got his chance to represent the public in late 2024, when he was chosen by his party to replace Willie Aird when he was voted to represent Laois in Dáil Éireann.

Now Cllr Buggy wants to end the "undemocratic" bans by Tidy Towns groups on election posters in many towns and villages.

Whilst having no legal basis as election posters are permitted, requests by many Tidy Towns groups are mostly complied with.

It affects new candidates' chances of winning a seat, points out Cllr Buggy.

He said he will meet Tidy Towns groups on the issue.

"We are not allowed posters in urban areas so people don't realise the excitement of an election. It is depriving people of knowing about candidates in their area. If you see posters up you can go on social media and find out more. In urban areas people are deprived of information.

"I hear them say they're anti-litter, but it seems ok to put up litter in rural areas. I had a heated debate about it. It's anti-democratic in my opinion. People should have access to make their democratic decision," he said.

He spoke at the January meeting of Laois County Council, while backing a motion by Cllr Tommy Mulligan to automatically put people on the voting register when they turn 18.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley jokingly proposed that Cllr Buggy negotiate ending the ban with Tidy Towns groups.

"Do you know, I will," he answered.

"You're well known but this doesn't allow us to get our names and face out. We need to encourage people into politics, voting has dropped in urban areas. We need people to vote and take part in society," Cllr Buggy said.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken from the Mountmellick Municipal District took issue.

"I don't like the idea that urban people don't tend to vote, I don't accept that. People in towns have the same views and beleives and like to take part in democracy. I'd say it's a fact that posters don't make a huge difference. We have posters on the edge of towns and most people are coming and going," he said.

"Statistically, numbers are declining in urban areas. Paddy gets a huge vote in Mountmellick no doubt," Cllr Buggy answered.

Cllr Buggy who manages Mountmellick MDA centre and has a farm between Mountmellick and Portlaoise, unsuccessfully ran for a seat in Mountmellick Municipal District and then last year in Portlaoise Municipal District. He will have four and half years now in his co-opted seat before seeking to hold onto it at the next local election.