24th April 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY WELCOMES ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY’S DECISION ON ESTATE AGENT ADS

The Green Party has welcomed the decision by the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland to uphold a complaint by Green Party Councillor Ciarán Cuffe against advertising by the estate agents Hook and McDonald.

The ads referred to a housing development at Ballycanew Court, Gorey, Co. Wexford as being within ‘easy commuting distance of Dublin by rail and car’. Mr. Cuffe complained that there was only one train every morning from Gorey to Dublin at 8 37 a.m., and that train did not arrive in Dublin until 10.23. He therefore stated that the advertisement was untruthful and his complaint has been upheld.

In the light of the decision, Councillor Cuffe has called for the ASAI to introduce penalties against untruthful advertisers:

“If advertisers break the law they should be penalised. I believe Hook and McDonald should face penalties for such unscrupulous advertising”, he stated.

 “This case also highlights the need for affordable housing within the Dublin area. The Government’s housing policies  have failed. Years of inappropriate rezonings and bad planning decisions have forced people to commute from Wexford because they cannot afford housing in Dublin." 

“If the Greens are in Government we will ensure that speculators are penalised, and that affordable housing is provided in the right locations for first-time buyers.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, Dáil Candidate    087 265 2075 or 618 3082