Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. This issue has arisen a number of times in my constituency, particularly in Malahide and Swords. The witnesses all have a great deal of experience of the issue based on their submission that I have just flicked through. I missed the contributions from some of my colleagues. However, based on the references made, there is a clear need for an evidence-based approach to this. Perhaps at tomorrow's forum we will see some empirical data placed into the public domain and hopefully this committee will get an opportunity to weigh in on the matter. We can talk about providing housing all we like, but at the end of the day a number of individuals will be involved in progressive begging, including a number in my constituency.

I am a keen observer of people; given the career path I have chosen it is a fairly obvious trait of a politician. One of the attributes of progressive begging I have observed in the city centre is the organised nature of it. Travelling home or into this building in the morning it is fairly obvious when I see a spotter standing off in the distance with a group of other individuals approaching people in a forthright fashion. I would not necessarily determine that it would be aggressive, because in my experience that tends to happen when the streets are quieter, perhaps at night when there is less footfall and when a person is isolated, chased and hounded for cash. It has happened to me and I have had reports from other people.

The submission refers to the need for legal clarity regarding the 2011 Act. This committee is always looking at legislation that might need to be rethought, reformed or created if there is a gap. Deputy Kenny spoke about the reluctance of the courts to proceed with cases. I firmly believe it is the law of the land and therefore they are obliged. However, I understand the Garda's issue with providing the necessary evidence. What is the witnesses' view of the 2011 Act? What parts of that Act require clarity? The courts have suggested it so I wonder if the witnesses have a view.