The Justice Minister’s confirmed that new laws are on the way to crack down on aggressive begging on our streets.

It will see gardaí being given new powers including arrest without warrant to tell beggars to move on if they are found to be near business premises, ATM’s or vending machines.

Fines and prison sentences could also be imposed on those who ask for cash at certain locations.

Minister Dermot Ahern says the law needs to be amended in line with an historic court finding.

“Government approved the legislation in the recent past and we’ll be publishing it I think very soon” he said.

“It’s to address an anomaly that was pointed out in the Vagrancy Act of 1847 by the High Court in the Dylan case”.

“That was that people are entitled, under the Constitution, to freedom of communication and freedom of expression” he added.