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24/11/2008
Government Launches Begging Crack Down
The Government has announced new laws to crack down on aggressive begging.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern revealed the plans for more Gardaí powers and to make certain begging practices an offence.
The Minister said that begging using "unacceptable behaviours" such as harassment, obstruction or intimidation will become an offence under the new laws.
Speaking on RTÉ News at One, Minister Ahern said: "There are various reasons why the law on begging needs to be reformed, not least the fact that some vulnerable members of the public are often fearful when approached on the street by individuals begging."
Gardaí will also be able to instruct beggars to stop, with failure to comply possibly resulting in arrest and charge.
The Minister will publish a Bill within the next few months.
Plans to curtail the practice are the first attempts to change the law since the High Court struck out the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847 in a landmark case last year.
A Dublin man won his High Court claim that a law outlawing begging in a public place was unconstitutional because it excessively interferes with his right of freedom of expression.
The historic law was introduced during the Great Famine, with Section 3 of the Act making begging in a public place an offence and provided for a sentence of up to three months on conviction on the charge.
(DW)
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern revealed the plans for more Gardaí powers and to make certain begging practices an offence.
The Minister said that begging using "unacceptable behaviours" such as harassment, obstruction or intimidation will become an offence under the new laws.
Speaking on RTÉ News at One, Minister Ahern said: "There are various reasons why the law on begging needs to be reformed, not least the fact that some vulnerable members of the public are often fearful when approached on the street by individuals begging."
Gardaí will also be able to instruct beggars to stop, with failure to comply possibly resulting in arrest and charge.
The Minister will publish a Bill within the next few months.
Plans to curtail the practice are the first attempts to change the law since the High Court struck out the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847 in a landmark case last year.
A Dublin man won his High Court claim that a law outlawing begging in a public place was unconstitutional because it excessively interferes with his right of freedom of expression.
The historic law was introduced during the Great Famine, with Section 3 of the Act making begging in a public place an offence and provided for a sentence of up to three months on conviction on the charge.
(DW)
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