A round-up of today's election news in brief
Republican SF opts out of Leinster House name game
Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) candidates in the local elections are being classified as non-party on ballot papers due to the party’s refusal to recognise the 26-county State.
Party vice-president Des Dalton, standing in Athy, Co Kildare, said: “The country’s oldest political party” refused to register “with the Leinster House assembly”.
As a result, many RSF candidates leave the party affiliation space on their nomination papers blank.
Returning officers have little option but to describe them on ballot papers as “Independent” which they clearly are not, or “non- party” - given that they are not part of a registered party. Returning officers generally opt for non-party.
"I am looking to move beyond using just leaflets and posters as a way of connecting with the people of Dublin."
Fine Gael MEP for Dublin Gay Mitchell on the big screen debut of his election broadcast in 14 cinemas across the city.
"Europe is more than a game. This is no time for celebrities in Brussels. We need serious politicians who can get the job done."
Colm Burke, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, doesn't like a show-off.
Reilly proud to display his FF loyalty logo
Fianna Fáil Galway county councillor and candidate Tom Reilly has moved to quash rumours about his loyalty to the party.
“I’m sick of people ringing me and saying I put up posters without a Fianna Fáil logo on them. I did not.”
Some of Mr Reilly’s posters did appear in the Tuam area without any reference to Fianna Fáil. However Mr Reilly said this was an error made by poster company Signcom and has since been rectified.
Paul Coady of Signcom has apologised and has written to the Tuam Herald to make his apology public.
Mr Reilly said: “I am a very, very proud Fianna Fáil man. Anyone who was in Tuam yesterday . . . will have seen the Fianna Fáil logo.”
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