Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also thank the Minister of State for his engagement today and for his frankness on this issue. I can think of one major building in Dublin that will shortly, probably, have its CCTV infrastructure removed. I daresay that the Chinese Communist Party might take more joy out of watching the shenanigans and the goings-on on the River Fergus than they might in this Chamber. Sometimes it can be more enlightening.

On a serious note, there is an issue here. I cannot see any GDPR, funding, planning, conservation or protection barriers to this. It needs a decision and such a decision to put up cameras could happen quickly, just like I did in the past week on my farm. They were put up in a matter of hours and are capturing footage. Only last weekend we had to ring the local gardaí. This can be very effective and can also be a deterrent. This would make a significant difference. This is an old building and unless we take affirmative action now to deal with it, this will only perpetuate and prolong this problem and we will be back here again and again.

I suggest we should take down the Chinese cameras in Leinster House and bring them down to Clare. They would be very welcome in their new home in Clare Abbey.

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