Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The members of the Dublin local authorities were contacted for the numbers. It has been raised at some of the joint policing committees but it was raised in tandem with other issues in the area. To suggest that introducing this legislation will immediately eliminate the problem is not the case. That is the reason it is being opposed.

Other issues were raised in this regard. Deputy Dooley raised the matter of car parking charges. While I agree with what he said, decisions on car parking charges can be made by the members of the local authority. This is an issue his party has been promoting.

In general, the reason the Government decided to oppose this legislation is that it is not seen as something that can solve a problem. We do not believe the problem is as big as the Deputy outlined, but if it becomes a bigger problem and there are statistics and facts to support that from the local authorities and there is a recommendation from the Garda, the Deputy could introduce it at a future date. At present, however, it is the Government's decision to oppose the legislation.

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