Dublin Bus should not have allowed “extreme” vegan advertisements to be placed on their vehicles, Cork South West TD Michael Collins has said.
Go Vegan World has bought a number of advertisements that encourage people to give up meat for the sake of the planet and because of animal welfare issues; however, last week, independent TD Carol Nolan told the Dáil the adverts were “disgraceful” and Cork TD Michael Collins is of a similar view.
“It’s completely extreme advertising to say the least,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“I have no issue with a person being vegan - that’s their entitlement - but putting up and paying for adverts like this such as, ‘Dairy takes babies from their mothers’ [and] ‘She has one precious life will your dinner take it from her?’ - that’s extreme advertising to say the very least.
“I think Dublin Bus, as a semi-State company, has a lot to answer for to think that they take adverts like that.”
Dublin Bus cannot accept advertisements that carry false information and Go Vegan World Director Sandra Higgins believes they are informative.
“We believe that the public have a right to factual information - so that’s the rationale behind our ads,” she said.
“The recent EPA statistics show that animal agriculture is the highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland - 37%.
“So, most people, when they think of taking action to be more environmentally friendly, they have shorter showers or they cycle to work.
“These actions are very beneficial but we believe that once they have access to these statistics, they realise how effective they could be if they change from animal products to a plant based vegan diet.”
Deputy Collins disagreed and said that the advertisements were in poor taste.
“I don’t think they’re right,” he said.
“I think they’re extreme; it’s scandalous advertising and it shouldn’t be allowed.
“I’m attacking Go Vegan Ireland for putting up those ads and I’m also attacking Dublin Bus for allowing those ads.”
Dublin Bus has been contacted for comment.
Main image: Split of Michael Collins TD and a Dublin Bus with a Go Vegan World Ad. Picture by: Rolling News.ie and Go Vegan World.
