Sinn Féin Bill To Exempt Local Groups From Paying For Policing

Sinn Féin have published a Bill aimed at exempting local community groups and festival organisations from paying for event policing.

Announcing the Bill the party's justice spokesperson, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, said that was "not acceptable" for local community, voluntary and charity groups "to foot the bill for policing services at events and festivals".

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: "These groups are made up of committed and hardworking volunteers who plan and organise events and festivals to benefit local communities and businesses. Such groups often have to fundraise to make such events happen and to require them to pay for the work of the Gardaí on top of this is unfair."

"Charity events, community fairs and annual parish festivals are the lifeblood of rural communities. Such events encourage tourism and contribute to community spirit."

"To demand organising committees to pay for policing doesn’t make sense.

"The Bill being moved here today does exactly that. It amends Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to exempt local cultural and heritage festivals, fundraising events for registered charities, local events organised on a voluntary basis and events that reinvest al profits for the benefit of the local community from paying for policing service."

(MH)