Removal of election signs criticised
The sign was removed shortly after it was erected
The removal of a sign outside Dunmore East promoting Eddie Punch’s European election candidacy has been described by the Independent Ireland candidate as “very disappointing”.
Mr Punch, the former General Secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), took to his Twitter/X feed on Wednesday morning and stated: “My election billboard on Waterford’s Dunmore Road. Lasted a few hours and then…disappeared. Somebody must be getting worried I’m gonna get elected.”
“I realise that other candidates may well have the same experience as myself between now and June 7, but I would appeal to whoever has removed and dumped election signage over the past week to think twice before doing so again,” added Mr Punch in his post.
He went on to state: “For all candidates, especially in a vast 10-county constituency like Ireland South, signage plays an important role in establishing recognition with voters, all the more so when you’re a first-time candidate like I am. Logistical considerations and time management make posters essential for a European election campaign and I have been as strategic as I can in placing my signage, adhering to regulations and the permission of landowners where applicable, as was the case when it came to the swiped sign near Dunmore East.”
Highlighting his election slogan, ‘there’s more to Ireland than Dublin’, which is features on his posters, Mr Punch said it’s a message that will resonate deeply with the people of Waterford, who have been disregarded by the political establishment for far too long.
“I passionately believe that our country needs to be successful in every county and that balanced regional development is more critical now than ever,” he stated.
“For example, instead of Dublin Airport further expanding, I would like to see a counterbalance created by increasing traffic into and out of Shannon, Cork and Farranfore Airports,” he added. With regard to Waterford Airport, he posted: “Repeated calls to restore Waterford Airport as a regional gateway for commercial flights, a campaign which has been waged locally for almost 20 years, should also be fully supported. Waterford and the South East deserves better.”
