Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom an Dáil a chur ar athló chun an cheist rí-thábhachtach seo a phlé, namely, the need for the Government to bring forward legislation to properly regulate shops offering cash for gold, which shops seek to take advantage of the economic circumstances of the least well off and are leading to an increase in burglaries as thieves target jewellery now more than ever. I am aware of an increase in burglaries in my own constituency in respect of which jewellery has been the target. The burglars are specifically targeting the elderly and people living alone as they are considered easy prey. This is becoming a bigger issue as we approach the Christmas period. The prevalence of these shops in particular areas, often on a short time basis only, exacerbates the problem.

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