20 Feb 2012, 16:08
The Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht will continue its hearings on the regulation of the vehicle clamping industry tomorrow, 21st February when it will hear from representatives from the Association of County and City Councils, the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland; and the Local Authorities Members Association.
Committee Chairman Ciarán Lynch, TD said: “Tomorrow we will meet representatives from the Association of County and City Councils, the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland and the Local Authorities Members Association to get their observations on clamping regulation. It is within the power of local authorities whether or not they choose to operate a clamping regime. Given their role, it is important that we get their views on the issue.
Among the matters we will be addressing tomorrow are the requirement, or not, for new legislation and what the legislation should address, regulation of the industry, licensing for clamping companies, standards and codes of practice for operators, the appeals process and penalties.
Tomorrow will be the last in a series of meetings to consider the views of a number of interested parties which will help form part of a report which we will prepare on regulation of the clamping industry. To date we have had a series of thought-provoking, constructive and worthwhile discussions with a variety of organisations. Among the matters that have been brought to the committee's attention so far are:
• Regulation, Licensing and Garda Clearance for operators.
• A national code of practice governing clampers.
• A uniformed and regulated appeals process.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, TD, has asked the Committee to take a role in the pre-Heads of Bill stage and contribute to the initial drafting of the legislation to regulate the vehicle clamping industry. Our report will contain a series of recommendations which will inform the drafting of that legislation.”
Officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will also attend the meeting which will take place on Tuesday, 21st February, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 2.15pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Fiach Mac Conghail