Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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500. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on introducing laws to make it illegal to beg beside or in the vicinity of parking ticket machines. [41050/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The law on begging is set out in the Public Order Act 2011. The Act defines begging as requesting or soliciting money or goods other than in accordance with a licence, permit or authorisation.

Section 2 of the Act provides that it is an offence while begging in any place to harass, intimidate, assault or threaten any other person or persons, or obstruct the passage of persons or vehicles.

Further provision is contained in section 3(2) of the Act with regard to begging at certain locations. The Garda Síochána may, under that section, direct a person begging at or near automated teller machines or vending machines, such as parking ticket machines, to leave the vicinity in a peaceable and orderly manner. Failure to comply with such a direction is an offence. Section 4 of the Act gives the Garda Síochána powers of arrest without warrant where there are reasonable grounds to believe that offences under this legislation have been committed.