City aims to ban street leaflets

ANTI-WAR groups have condemned proposals to restrict the right to protest and to ban street leafleting in Galway City.

The city council has drawn up draft bye-laws which will impose fines of up to €200 on those who distribute street leaflets. Fines of up to €1,270 may be imposed on those who organise public gatherings of more than 100 people.

The activist group, Globalise Resistance, said the new laws would restrict the right of people to publicise and organise events.

“In Galway the anti-war movements attracted crowds of 3,000-4,000 people. That would not have been possible if we weren’t allowed to give out leaflets,” spokesman Donal MacFhearraigh said.

Globalise Resistance are organising a protest with other community and anti-racism groups next month when councillors meet to discuss the bye-laws.

Another proposal in the bye-laws states that “no person shall organise, conduct or participate in any musical performance” in a public space without the written consent of the council.

Galway City Council said its ban on street leafleting was intended to cut down on litter and not to curtail democratic rights.

The city council claims the requirement to provide notification of large public meetings is for safety reasons only

Galway was recently named as the dirtiest city in Ireland in a survey for Irish Business Against Litter. The proposals on street leafleting will help to tackle the problem, said Lord Mayor of Galway Terry O’Flaherty.

She said there was room for compromise before councillors voted on proposals.