Minister rejects scrap metal Bill

There could be a case for tighter controls in the cash for gold sector, the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said but he insists crime has not increased with the advent of such businesses.

TDs from all parties and Independents highlighted burglaries and thefts of public monuments stolen for their precious or scrap metal content, including cabling for railway signals, children’s playground apparatus, religious icons and unfinished houses.

They were speaking during a debate on private member’s legislation introduced by Independent TD Mattie McGrath, which provides for stricter controls on trading in precious and scrap metals because of the huge increase in the value of gold, silver, platinum, copper, lead and bronze.

Mr Shatter told the Dáil “there may be a case for tighter requirements specifically in the cash for gold sector” but the Minister said the Garda Commissioner “has indicated no identifiable increase in crime as a result of the increase of cash for gold trading”.

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said she had to dispute this, that at all community meetings in her Dublin Central constituency an increase in crime was highlighted.

“The Commissioner also informed the Minister that cash for gold premises are all visited by the Garda Síochána. Again, I find that very difficult to believe,” she said.

Government backbencher Paschal Donohoe said that while gun crime and public order offences had decreased, crimes against property and burglary had risen by 3 per cent. The Fine Gael TD was certain the distribution of cash for gold shops played a role in this.

“In Dublin Central, there was a huge increase in the number of such shops. Their concentration in particular clusters must have had an impact on the incentives provided to people to engage in burglary.”

Mr McGrath said “there are no boundaries over which the cowboys and rogues who are operating here and plundering our national treasures and wrecking havoc on families will not cross”.

He highlighted a number of incidents including a team that stripped the roof of Hume Street hospital in Dublin over a number of weeks, when people thought they were doing a repair job.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Dara Calleary said the illegitimate side of the cash for gold business included “non-registered traders calling to people's properties and farms, making offers, targeting older people living on their own and acting in a threatening or aggressive manner in the pursuit of these products”.

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Jonathon O’Brien said that before Christmas, cash-for-gold shops were mushrooming out of the ground, and some had since closed.

“There is no way of even knowing who was operating the businesses. They do not have to register with anyone. They ought to register with the Revenue Commissioners, including for VAT.”

He added: “Not only are the victims of burglaries losing out, the State is losing out on potential revenue.”

Independent TD Catherine Murphy said there was an unfinished estate in her Kildare North constituency with about 12 houses that were unsold.

“They were gutted of anything of value, including metals, doors, patio doors and flashing. Those houses may have to be demolished.”

Simon Harris referred to a cash for gold exhibition in his area, held in the local centre.

“A number of houses were robbed that weekend. The burglars walked by with laptops and other valuable items and took the jewellery.”

Former Labour TD Tommy Broughan said criminals could get €6 for a kilo of copper, €1 for a kilo of lead and up to €200 per tonne of scrap steel.

“Just two years ago the same amount of scrap steel would have been worth €30.”

Mr Shatter rejected the legislation and said its provisions “would not be effective” and “could impact adversely on jewellery and antique businesses throughout the country”.

Mr Shatter said all cash for gold premises in the State had been visited by gardaí and made aware of their responsibilities and obligations. He was considering “tighter requirements” for the sector based on identification of those selling items, recording transactions and retaining records.

Mr McGrath verbally bristled when the Minister described his legislation as “decorative”.

During sharp exchanges when he called the Minister “mealy mouthed” and Mr Shatter described him as a “disgrace to the House”, Mr McGrath said the Minister “must wake up and listen to what is being said. This isn’t Mattie McGrath's Bill. You must listen to your backbenchers.”

He also said: “The ESB has cost the Garda a fortune” because they had to have regular patrols by gardaí of substations and power stations to protect them from such thefts.