Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)

I compliment my colleague, Deputy Mattie McGrath on putting a comprehensive Bill before us and for the fine detail included in it. It took a great deal of time and effort in research and raising the various data with which he has come up. It is a timely Bill. Deputy McGrath has made some logical and rational suggestions and proposals in it.

I also commend all the Deputies who made positive contributions to this debate. I would ask the Minister to take note of them. He might be more receptive to the Bill when he gives it fuller consideration.

There needs to be more co-operation between the Garda and the Revenue and, naturally, with the dealers also coming forward and being transparent in all their transactions. Deputy Finian McGrath mentioned the regulation of this sector and he also looked at the potential for viable businesses. There should be an effort made in this regard, perhaps through the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Perry, who was here earlier. There is a role to be played, perhaps by the new body, Solas, in a general approach to get these persons to legitimise their business and act like everybody in the business community by being tax compliant regarding VAT and regarding all the other matters, such as PRSI, associated with their employees. There is significant potential, if the sector is organised properly. It would be helpful to everybody in society. Perhaps the Government, and the jobs and innovation officials, would take this on board.

This is a serious business for the dealers. There is also the security aspect to the general organisation of their business. For instance, earlier there was mention of scrap yards and their business premises. One important element which should be mandatory in the legislation is the provision of properly maintained CCTV cameras at all stages to record everything moving and everything visible within the business. All such records should be kept for the maximum amount of time possible. I do not know the standards in this regard, but I believe it is 30 days. The video footage should be retained for a lengthy period of time so that it could be examined at any stage. It would be a good monitoring service to have and it should be provided.

Illegal trading and vandalism is endemic in the country and Deputy Harris provided anecdotal evidence of it. He made an excellent contribution to the proposals in the Bill which I take on board. He also made much sense regarding what is happening. On certain weekends, there appears to be an organised spat of crime and there is evidence to show that it is synchronised. This is where we need to have the preventative measures in place and where we need to have the data being looked at by the Garda Síochána. One must cut it off in time before it grows. At this stage, we have enough experience of what can happen if left unchecked.

The Garda Síochána is doing an excellent job within the available resources. However, transport is needed in isolated areas. For some time Garda cars for surveillance and carrying out routine inspections have been removed where the elderly live. These can deter crime before it happens.

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