Hermann Kelly said the €5,000 ad money was returned last week

Public-transport provider CIE has stopped accepting political advertising on all its trains and buses pending a review of policy.

Exterion Media, which manages and operates the semi-state company’s advertising, confirmed it had been told by CIE to decline any new bookings.

Among those to have bookings refused are the Irish Freedom Party, which wanted to launch 30 bus adverts tomorrow. Hermann Kelly, the party’s candidate for the European parliament in the Dublin constituency, said €5,000 he paid towards the campaign was returned last week.

Among those who have advertised on Dublin Bus already are European candidates Barry Andrews of Fianna Fail, Frances Fitzgerald of Fine Gael, and independents Clare Daly and Gemma O’Doherty.

Exterion said it had run eight separate campaigns for various parties prior