asked the Minister for Local Government if, having regard to the immense defacement of innumerable walls, bridges and other structures, both publicly and privately owned, by the painting or spraying of slogans during the EEC referendum campaign, he will issue an appeal to all local authorities to remove and assist private owners to remove all such disfiguring slogans without delay; if he will introduce legislation to impose severe penalties on future painters of such graffiti; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Property Defacement.
131.
I welcome this opportunity to say how much I deplore the defacement of public and private property which has taken place. This type of activity is completely reprehensible and I am sure that members from all parties in the Dáil are unanimous in their condemnation. It is my hope that owners of property and the local authorities will do their best to secure early removal of the defacement. I do not think this is a case where action should be taken to compel private owners to remove slogans. I feel that they will be anxious to do so themselves.
As regards legislation to impose penalties, the real difficulty is to apprehend the persons responsible for defacement. The matter is already covered by section 53 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, which makes it an offence to carry out flyposting or any defacement by writing or other marks on any structure or other land unless authorised by the owners, occupier or person in charge or by any enactment. Any person who contravenes the section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20.