Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion
9:30 am
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source
I thank the witnesses for their submission to the committee.
It was acknowledged in the opening statements that the issue of begging is a complex one. Given that acknowledgement, why the focus on a policing solution to it? The term "aggressive begging", was mentioned. Most of the people we see begging on the streets are sitting passively in a sleeping bag with a cup in their hands. Perhaps the delegates would define what is considered to be aggressive begging. It is acknowledged that begging is a complex problem and that those who beg often have issues around alcohol and mental health, yet a policing solution is called for. Is there not a contradiction in that?
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