The Dáil has voted in favour of legislation to deal with unauthorised traveller encampments. Under the amendment to the Public Order Act, travellers could be arrested if they fail to move on within 24 hours of being requested to do so. Those convicted could face a fine of €3000 or one month in jail.
Earlier in the Dáil, the Labour Party accused the Government of attempting to rush through the new legislation. Labour's Housing spokesman, Eamon Gilmore, said this was an entirely new piece of legislation which had only been circulated yesterday, and he objected to plans to restrict the debate on it to a few hours today.
Mr Gilmore said the law would have serious implications for travellers, yet it was being rushed through without any consultation with any of the organisations representing travellers.
Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell said she did not want to see travellers thrown in jail, but a balance must be struck between the right of travellers and those of the settled community.
