The junior minister with special responsibility for forestry, horticulture and food safety, Tom Hayes, has been criticised for having some of his election posters nailed to trees around Clonmel.

The posters were spotted along the Cahir Road and Sinn Féin's Tipperary candidate, Councillor Séamie Morris, has hit out at the "vandalism and damage" it has done to the trees.

Mr Morris says such disregard for natural life from supporters of the outgoing Minister is particularly disappointing as the Minister has special responsibility for forestry, and because some of the trees are ash.

Cllr Morris said: "Nailing election posters to trees is a regressive development in a modern election. Most of us have moved beyond thinking of trees as unimportant and near-inanimate objects.

"We have moved to understanding that trees provide more than just visual amenity. They clean the air, provide the oxygen we breathe, and are a key component in maintaining a healthy environment.”

"We have come to accept and care for the natural environment and show regard for trees in particular. It was therefore a major surprise –and disappointment – to learn that so many trees have been vandalised in this way. Hammering nails into trees stopped being acceptable decades ago."

Some of the trees are ash, a species that is under threat from Ash Dieback which has spread across Europe and is already in Ireland.

Mr Morris said: "It does this by damaging the layer of bark that transports nutrients to the rest of the tree.

"That's also the layer that is most compromised by the hammering in of nails, such as Mr Hayes has done. There are three nails in many of the trees, and therefore three sites for infection."

Fine Gael said the party “expects all its candidates to respect postering guidelines.

“We understand that these posters have now been removed.”