Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I was watching this on screen and I felt the need to come to the House and reiterate my opposition to lowering the thresholds with regard to a mini-CAB. It contributes to the cycle of criminality. We are talking about removing small amounts of cash - around €1,000 - whether from the drug trade or from the black economy in general, such as street traders and counterfeit goods. Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, they are keeping communities afloat in certain areas. Until we address the reasons those areas need to move to such an economy, which obviously include inequality, poverty and the need to find other markets for them to survive, I do not think it is appropriate to lower the cash amount to €1,000. There have been many stories over the years about people carrying out murders and killings because amounts as little as €1,000 were owed to those higher up the ladder. Targeting those at the very bottom and taking cash quantities of €1,000 from them leaves them extremely vulnerable, owing that debt or owing favours to those at the top of the chain, whom these measures have absolutely no impact on. This will actually attack the most vulnerable on the street. I know this is in response to what is happening in the north inner city, but it affects other trades. It effectively becomes a working-class court system. People are pitted against one another. If a person is seen to have extra cash in working-class areas, does that leave him or her open to being reported? People will end up being pitted against each other. All these measures, in both the drugs Bill a few weeks ago and the proceeds of crime Bills, have gone for low-hanging fruit. I know the Bill will pass, but I felt the need to come up and say that I want to play absolutely no part in contributing to the cycle of criminality that lowering the threshold to €1,000 brings.