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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Electoral commission and poster removal

Summary

Mattie McGrath asks whether Gardaí will act against the alleged removal of referendum posters and seeks progress on the electoral commission Bill. The Taoiseach has no introduction date but says removing posters is already an offence.

The Taoiseach accepts that we are all political practitioners here and go about our election campaigns without fear or favour. We were promised an electoral commission Bill. I have a dossier here about posters being taken down from Donegal to Tipperary by the "Yes" campaign in the marriage referendum campaign. Will gardaí take any action or are they tied up? The Garda has always looked after elections without fear or favour. This is terrible behaviour.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

It is not on the Order of Business.

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Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to talk to the Garda-----

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

It is not on the Order of Business.

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There are pictures of people on Facebook who think they can act with impunity after the intervention of the Garda Representative Association. It is disgraceful.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

It may be disgraceful. It is not on the Order of Business.

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I am asking about this legislation. We will hardly get it before the referendum.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

What legislation?

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It is the electoral commission legislation. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to talk to the Garda?

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It is not very funny. Deputies would not like it if it happened to them.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

It is not very funny but this is the Order of Business.

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I asked about the legislation.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I do not have a date for the introduction of the electoral commission Bill. One does not need an electoral commission to know that posters should not be taken down. It is an offence to do so.

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