Irish Freedom Party leader Hermann Kelly’s attempts to submit an image for a billboard campaign with JCDecaux have been refused, despite the company accepting promotional material for other candidates.
This is despite accepting election posters from other candidates, such as Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry, who is running for election to the European Parliament in the same constituency as Mr Kelly, Midlands-North West.
Speaking to Gript, Mr Kelly described it as “shocking and dangerous” that an advertising agency would refuse an election candidate “with a very moderate message while at the same time, agreeing to post billboards for a government party, while it has large, exclusive contract with a state company, Bus Eireann”.
“It is essential to democracy that all democratic voices be heard and arguments debated in the public sphere. By refusing to display an advert, they are interfering and distorting the democratic process,” Mr Kelly said.
This comes after Mr Kelly earlier this month inquired after renting billboard space from the outdoor advertising firm, following which he was told by a JCDecaux employee that the company doesn’t accept bookings for political campaigns until the proposed copy has gone through an approval process.
This policy was put in place, the employee said, because of a number of issues with political campaigns that have seen JCDecaux targeted on social media and, in some cases, vandalism to their panels.
The policy cited to Mr Kelly stated that JCDecaux has the right to refuse to exhibit any display which in the opinion of JCDecaux is “objectionable” or in conflict with “JCDecaux values or our Code of Ethics”.
The advertising company suggested that Mr Kelly send a copy of a proposed design, which he did. The image saw Mr Kelly standing before the Irish flag alongside his name and the name of his party.
The poster bore the words, “To oppose EU Open Borders” and “House the Irish First”.
This was rejected, with the JCDecaux employee saying that they have accepted ads from other candidates running in both the local and European elections because the posters used are promoting the individual’s candidacy without references to their stance or position on any specific issues.
After they suggested that he revise his copy based on those guidelines, Mr Kelly did so, submitting a similar image, but without the text making explicit his stances. The new image stated “For European Elections” and “…Enough!”
However, Mr Kelly said that this image too was refused, with the same employee saying that JCDecaux has no industry-approved reference point or guidelines for campaigns such as his and that as a result, they have taken a decision not to exhibit campaigns of this nature.
“That an anti-establishment figure like myself is excluded by an agency with a large state contract shows how insider money and influence can strangle national debate. I hope that people use word of mouth to get our pro personal liberty and national sovereignty message out among their family, friends and peers,” Mr Kelly said.
Attempts made by Gript to receive a statement from JCDecaux on the matter went unanswered.