17th February 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CALLS ON PROPERTY FIRM TO WITHDRAW MISLEADING ADS

The Green Party have made a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about an advertisement which describes new homes in Wexford as being within ‘east commuting distance of Dublin by rail or car.” The ad from the firm of Hook and McDonald refers to new homes in Ballycanew, Gorey, Co. Wexford. It appeared in the Irish Times Property Supplement on the 7th February 2002.

Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party stated “There is only one train from Gorey to Dublin. It leaves Gorey at 8h37 and arrives into Dublin Connolly at 10h30, not great if you’re due at work at 9 am. The situation by car is just as bad, with bumper-to-bumper traffic from Shankill to the City Centre most weekday mornings”

“We have written to both Hook and McDonald and the Advertising Standards Authority calling for the misleading ad to be withdrawn.

“The Government should be ensuring that affordable homes are provided in Dublin instead of forcing people into a commuting nightmare. They should also be investing in commuter rail so that towns like Gorey have more than one train every morning to Dublin.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe                                                087 265 2075 or 618 3082

Stephen Rawson, Press Officer 087 235 7551 or 618 4088