asked the Minister for Justice if consideration has been given to the problem arising from the large numbers of itinerant tinkers, gypsies, dealers and beggars who camp on public roads all the year round and cause damage to property and inconvenience to residents of areas adjoining their encampments and to users of the public roads, and if he will state what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Problem of Itinerants.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I shall answer Questions No. 52 and No. 53 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to a somewhat similar question on 21st July, 1949.
I said then that, if I could see any satisfactory way of dealing with this matter, I would not hesitate to introduce proposals for legislation, but that, unfortunately, I did not see any satisfactory solution. That is still the position.
Is the Minister aware that one simple step towards the solution would be to introduce licences for all people who wish to camp on the roads?
Is the Deputy aware that there are 6,000 of these persons whose people have been on the roads for centuries and that they have a prescriptive right to be on the roads?
By what law?
The Deputy wants to put them off the roads; a Bill was introduced in Northern Ireland to do that and it was withdrawn.
They were not the same men.
Is the Minister accurate about the figure 6,000? Has he counted them?
I have and the Deputy has not.