Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with the surcharge Senator Barrett proposes. Being clamped can be traumatic for certain people. The Minister is right to ask the NTA to set a fixed rate for a clamping fee. A surcharge may be abused in certain circumstances.

On Second Stage I asked the Minister to draw up a charter of rights for people whose cars are clamped requiring that they be released within a certain time of the person contacting the clamper. I do not know whether that is part of the Bill.

What is the duty on the clamping company to notify the owner if his or her car has been towed away? If a person’s car is missing, even if it was illegally parked, he or she would contact the gardaí first to report it as stolen. The Minister should make some provision for that. I asked that the gardaí be the only ones allowed to be present when a car is being towed away and that people are notified. Can they be texted? When people tax their cars they provide an e-mail address or mobile telephone number. Even if people are breaking the law or taking up spaces on private property there must be a duty to inform them if they are clamped.