asked the Minister for Justice if a single collection permit is sufficient in respect of a street collection that is organised on a country-wide basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Street Collection Permits.
69.
The Street and House to House Collections Act, 1962, provides that a permit must be obtained from the Chief Superintendent in charge of each Division in which a street collection is held.
I am glad to take this opportunity to point out that it is an offence for any person to hold or act as a collector in any collection in respect of which no permit is in force and the Garda are empowered to seize any money taken up in such a collection, and that money then becomes forfeit. In addition, the promoter of any event in a public place to which the public have access on payment for admission, and the owner of the place, commit an offence if they allow a collection to be made in the place during the event, unless a permit has been granted.
I feel that I should warn all those who contemplate the making of collections of any sort that failure to obtain permits will result in the seizure of the proceeds of the collections and prosecution of those concerned.