Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The purpose of the Bill is to reform the law on begging. Many members of the public have complained about begging and will welcome this measure. The current law dates back to 1847 and was deemed to be unconstitutional by the High Court. The Bill before us will outlaw begging accompanied by threats, intimidation, violence or obstruction. It makes begging an offence and carries a penalty of a fine or imprisonment. However, we hope that common sense will prevail and that, apart from extreme circumstances, a custodial sentence will not be necessary.

The Garda Síochána are being given new powers to direct persons who are begging to desist and move on from certain key locations, including ATM machines. Nobody has a surplus of money nowadays and it is wrong that people cannot visit an ATM machine without being interrupted. The specified locations will also include entrances to houses or business premises.

The Bill will protect members of the public from begging activity both by adults and children. There have been some reports of children begging from other children with threats being used. The current law is not clear enough in this regard and its provisions are too general.

Some local areas have gone to a lot of effort to create facilities for the general good of the community. If people are begging in these locations, however, it puts people off, so they shy away from such places. It is wrong for adults to use children to beg. It is sad to see people begging. It is bad for the beggar and the public. It is hard to know if people would stop begging if they were not supported, but why do people beg? Begging should be controlled by law, but should only be an offence when it is carried out in a threatening manner. Begging interferes with people who are doing their best to go about their normal lives while minding their own business.

Charity collections are not affected by the legislation. The provisions of the Bill will be applied to public and private places. People must be allowed to go about their business and live their lives without undue interference.

While the Bible asserts that the world will always include poor people, it has relatively little to say about beggars. Most of the stories about beggars are to be found in the New Testament. The Old Testament's verses about begging are mostly philosophical in nature. The Old Testament considers begging to be bad. Jesus told a story about a beggar called Lazarus and a rich man. Lazarus had begged daily in front of a rich man's house, but the latter never gave him anything. When both men died, the beggar found himself in comfort with Abraham, but the rich man was in agony in a burning fire. He was thirsty so he asked Abraham to send the beggar to give him a drop of water to cool his tongue. Abraham reminded the rich man that he was reaping what he had sown in the way he had treated the beggar when they were both alive. He refused his request.

Like all human beings, beggars should be treated with dignity and respect. Just because they beg it does not mean that we can dismiss them or fail to treat them with dignity. Beggars who threaten, abuse or intimidate, however, should never be tolerated.

We have good social services at the moment and community welfare officers do a good job in every county. People should be informed that this is their port of call. Many voluntary organisations, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Simon Community are doing Trojan work in helping people out. Genuine beggars should be spoken to, helped and encouraged to give it up. Begging is bad for a person's morale and their general health. Beggars who threaten, however, should be stamped out.

I do not have too many details about those who beg in a menacing way, but they are out there and the Bill aims to stop their activities. They should be moved on by members of the Garda Síochána.

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