Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

On the problem of begging, I bring to the attention of the House that new legislation passed in February 2011, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011. More than 500 people have been arrested under the legislation since the Bill was enacted. The information was published in a report to the Dublin Regional Authority in the past month. I highlight the matter lest people think nothing has been done. There was a breach in the legislation dating from the 1800s which was found to be unconstitutional in 2007. No law existed between 2007 and 2011 when the new legislation was enacted. I bring it to the attention of the House that steps are being taken. However, it is obvious that not enough has been done. Perhaps we must examine the new legislation because under its terms it is not a criminal offence to beg unless it is accompanied by aggression or involves the intimidation of people standing at a bank machine, for example. The legislation is very new and was only published in February 2011. Perhaps we could ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to re-examine it. There might be constitutional reasons the legislation cannot be made any stronger.

Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to comment on the statements made in the House today? We have heard much about culture in this country but a report has found that it is the culture of Roma gypsies to beg. Buses leaving the country have been raided and people have been found with thousands of euro. It was found that people bought runners for one person who was begging on Grafton Street without shoes. The comment was made that he had more pairs of runners than one would find in a top runner shop. I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to examine the matter.

On missing persons, a journalist is missing in India for the past month. I encourage all Members to tweet about it or mention it on Facebook. Oireachtas Members should do something positive for missing people. I agree that people should be congratulated by Members. However, a young journalist, Jonathan Spollen, is missing in India for the past month and his family, which is from Ranelagh, has made an appeal. I call on all Members to tweet his name and put it on Facebook. Another 16 year old young man, whose name I have forgotten, went missing in Dublin on Friday as well.