asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will introduce legislation to prohibit roadside trading.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roadside Trading.
37.
I am aware of suggestions that roadside trading has given rise to abuses recently, but in my view these abuses are not so serious as to justify the drastic step of prohibiting all roadside trading.
What are the undesirable effects mentioned by the Minister?
I was talking about abuses. I think most people are familiar with this form of trading; certainly those living in my own constituency near Dublin Airport are and I also know that people in Deputy Molloy's constituency this side of Galway city and in a number of other places are familiar with it. There have been circumstances where shopkeepers in almost every town have protested against the competition they were meeting with colour television sets, radio sets, bedding and various other materials, and there have been a number of actions by the Garda. There has also been a great deal of comment.
Have steps been taken (1) to ensure that VAT is charged on the goods sold and (2) that the goods have been legally purchased by the sellers of these goods?
I applaud the sentiments behind the two parts of the Deputy's question but he is as aware as I am and as everyone is of the fairly sharp confrontations between gardaí and some of these roadside sellers. He is also, no doubt, as aware as I am that there is a doubt as to whether they pay VAT and as to the source of the goods they are selling. It is quite a difficult task but it is important for the Garda and others to see that this practice is stamped out. On the other hand, there have been people selling at the roadside, at fairs and at other places for a very long time, who offer a service and who are perfectly valid and useful members of the community. It is important that they should retain their rights to offer the public this service.