Feargal Quinn (Independent)

What is the position on the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010? It is a Bill "entitled an Act to prohibit harassment or intimidation of members of the public by persons who engage in begging". I gather it has gone through some Stages in the Dáil, but it has not yet reached this House. I do not know what the experience of other Members is, but I have found that begging and intimidation which I have really only noticed in the past year or two have harmed the tourism business and impacted on those who might be considering investing in this country. To a large extent, it does not involve individuals who are short of money but professional beggars. In walking from Leinster House to Grafton Street one comes across the same people over and over again. We have legislation on the Statue Book, but it seems to have come to a halt. The Bill mentinoned was initiated last January, but it has not yet reached this House. On one occasion my daughter was stopped by someone who was looking for money to buy something to eat. She refused to give money but went into a nearby shop and bought a sandwich and a cup of tea. However, the person concerned threw them at her and said they wanted money. I am talking about professional beggars. There is a difference between such individuals and those badly in need. That legislation is on the books, but I do not know what has happened to it.

Senator Harris discussed how we do not see any good news. There was a lovely bit of news from Derry this week, in that it is hosting the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race. Those ships will reach Derry in July 2012. It had a problem deciding on what to call its own boat. The solution it came up with was to call one side of the boat Derry and the other side Londonderry. This is an effort to compromise and to incorporate both sides. I wonder to what extent it is possible for us to achieve similar compromises in other sports. It is interesting that some of the foreign games we play, such as hockey and rugby, have united Ireland teams while some other games we play do not.