Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This issue has been ignored for too long. It is a difficult issue to which the response must by its nature take a multi-agency approach. Policing obviously is one aspect of it, but consideration also must be given to social services, housing services and all of that. In addition, one must be realistic in this regard. I would argue that some of those who are involved in begging, albeit in a minority of cases, are engaged in a criminal enterprise and that warrants a policing response, not a social response. Some of the begging I have witnessed has been criminal behaviour. I have seen women being pursued up Grafton Street aggressively and intimidation would be a gentle description of some of those scenes. I must state such incidents are in a minority, as the majority of begging involves people with a cup, which I always find really disturbing. The witnesses have appeared before this committee today, the ambit of which includes policing and legislation. I commend the witnesses on their good and constructive presentation. Are they willing to work with the different agencies? Would they be willing to be part of a task force to consider how this matter might be addressed? This issue has been neglected for far too long and must be addressed. It is not fair to the majority of people who find themselves in that position and is unfair to citizens who are faced with this difficult challenge to their conscience. People are decent and experience a terrible feeling that they have failed someone when they walk past him or her without giving something.