Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Therefore, people are Inevitably driven to parking in unauthorised places. I have no problem with them being clamped if they are likely to cause difficulty for ambulance access or an emergency. It is incumbent on the hospital authorities to ensure adequate parking facilities are available. In its 2012 report on alternatives to clamping, the joint committee recommended that self-enforcing barrier control car parks should be used as an alternative to clamping particularly in sensitive locations, such as hospitals. The Bill, as drafted, does not provide for that exemption. According to the Minister, it took the view that even though hospitals are sensitive places the fact that some people park recklessly in hospital car parks sometimes impeding access, the NTA is allowed to treat hospitals differently from other public areas but it does not believe an outright ban on clamping in hospitals is appropriate.

In general the Bill is welcome. On the issue of parking in disabled spaces, I strongly object to such parking. In my own town of Ballinasloe, a small town which has a significant number of parking paces allocated for disabled persons, I regularly see able bodied people parking in those spaces. That is wrong. Any penalty, no matter how high, imposed on those who park in disabled persons' spaces is acceptable to me.

I compliment the Minister on bringing the Bill to the House, the main thrust of which I support.