Election candidates' addresses should stop being published on ballot papers due to "growing aggression" from the far right, a Dublin TD has urged.

Green Party TD Patrick Costello has written to local government minister Kieran O’Donnell and the Electoral Commission about the matter, calling for the change to be implemented before the local and European elections scheduled for June 2024.

"In today's digital age, where personal information can easily be accessed and exploited, the presence of home addresses on ballot papers poses significant safety risk and should reviewed," the Dublin South-Central TD said.

"This is especially true in light of the rise in activity of individuals on the far-right. Such individuals seek to portray elected leaders as 'sellouts' and 'traitors', which is designed to intimidate and spark violence."

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Mr Costello referenced the recent attack of Dub Laoghaire-Rathdown Cllr Hugh Lewis' home, while his elderly father was inside.

"That elected representatives might live in fear of such an event recurring is unacceptable in a democracy. We have also seen in the past a politician having his car set on fire in front of his house.

"It's not just politicians at risk here. The fact that the father of ClIr Lewis was the only individual home at the time highlights a further risk with this publicly available information.

"Politicians' friends and family are, by virtue of association at risk. We have also seen journalists, librarians, and teachers have all been recently targeted with intimidation and violence. We must not allow the undermining political and democratic rights in Ireland today."

Mr Costello said that having the change in place by next summer's local and European elections will "enhance the safety and privacy of our elected representatives, thus offering a sense of security to them and their families and to our democratic processes."

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