Amendment to Begging Laws

flyton5

i see the good minister for justice has decided to have a crackdown on begging laws....maybe it should extend to chuggers(charitable muggers) on grafton street....sick of them asking for part of my wages to sponsor stuff.....

Eru

They get paid to hassle you as well!

Beggings is no longer a crime, thats why he needs to bring a new law in but really, begging will not be illegal again save for a vote to change the constitution.

flyton5

according to the good minister the gardaí will have new powers to direct people to desist from begging("go home outta that....ahhhh sure jaysus, grafton street is your home") and if they fail to comply they can be arrested and charged("how wud u like to spend the night on a matress in a cell?? what do u mean it sounds good to you??")...maybe it'l work in the short term but we shud really be charging room and board if an arrest is made.....

tallaght01

There may be a good reason to outlaw begging.

I'm not sure if there is. I can't think of it.

My opinion (and I have no real knowledge of the law here) is that it would be an archaic move to ban it again. It would waste garda time, and would be basically done to cover up the fcat that the state doesn't provide for some of it's most vulnerable citizens.

Dave!

I thought the Supreme Court found that begging was covered under freedom of expression? Something like that...? If that's the case, I don't know what the new legislation will cover. Harassment, intimidation, assault, false imprisonment, etc., are all offences already.

Eru

Dave! wrote: »

I thought the Supreme Court found that begging was covered under freedom of expression? Something like that...? If that's the case, I don't know what the new legislation will cover. Harassment, intimidation, assault, false imprisonment, etc., are all offences already.

I understood that it was a way of life and therefore protected under the constitution. Its hard to see what can be accomplished in fairness as I would imagine the main people its aimed at (not the homeless) can use the same defence again.

deadwood

What's wrong with getting the odd "dig-out?"

eth0_

tallaght01 wrote: »

There may be a good reason to outlaw begging.

I'm not sure if there is. I can't think of it..

I think it's more to stop begging rings (e.g. Roma, Irish skangers sending their kids out to beg on their behalf) than to victimise genuine homeless people.

After all, the fine is 700 euro - your genuine person begging is not going to have 700 euro to their name!

flyton5

hard to say whether there's a valid reason for the amendments.....i've never been forced 2 give change.....dont get me wrong its an annoyance having these people sitting at atms but they're not a HUGE problem by any means.....

metman

I heard this on RTE the other day and was stunned that begging isn't an offence....holy jaysus. Here its arrestable (well everything here is arrestable really, as we mean business, in a non-confrontational, diverse, politcally correct way).

Seriously though, begging a lifestyle choice??? WTF!?

Aggressive begging = nicked.

flyton5

metman wrote: »

I heard this on RTE the other day and was stunned that begging isn't an offence....holy jaysus. Here its arrestable (well everything here is arrestable really, as we mean business, in a non-confrontational, diverse, politcally correct way).

Seriously though, begging a lifestyle choice??? WTF!?

Aggressive begging = nicked.

ahhhh yeh fine i wudnt take kindly to agressive begging....u deserve 2 get pulled for that.....but your ordinary joe soap who sits at the phone box outside dandelion on st. stephens green.....sure he just uses ur change to buy hash...er....i mean pay for a night in a hostel...poor fella!

Eru

well I remember telling one well known burglar to move on when he was begging and his response was "Do you want me here where you can see me and im not hassling any shoppers or where you cant see me and nicking their car stereos?"

What do you say to that? He was right!

flyton5

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

well I remember telling one well known burglar to move on when he was begging and his response was "Do you want me here where you can see me and im not hassling any shoppers or where you cant see me and nicking their car stereos?"

What do you say to that? He was right!

really isnt much you can say to that one....did u suggest he find employment....doesnt always go down well.....

tedstriker

Begging has got way out of hand in Dublin over the past 18 months. I don't mind someone looking for food or somewhere to stay if they're really down on their luck but generally they're looking for some cash for their fix and if anyone jumps out of their politically correct seats and says I'm wrong then try to offer one of them a sandwich and see how grateful they are.

Eru

tedstriker wrote: »

Begging has got way out of hand in Dublin over the past 18 months. I don't mind someone looking for food or somewhere to stay if they're really down on their luck but generally they're looking for some cash for their fix and if anyone jumps out of their politically correct seats and says I'm wrong then try to offer one of them a sandwich and see how grateful they are.

I dont think many will disagre with you. The problem is, its deemed constitutional and therefore protected. It was brought to the high court last year or the year before and I hope the little rich kid and his solicitor are very proud of their accomplishment

eroo

Begging should be made illegal here imo. It has gotten very bad in inner city Limerick.