Call for tighter regulations to curtail rise of ‘chuggers’

Politicians are calling for tighter rules and regulations around charity street fundraising, with one Dublin city councillor branding the practice “repugnant and insulting”.

Mannix Flynn, independent councillor Dublin South East, said he has been raising the issue of chuggers — people who seek donations for charities on the streets — for the past two years and has tabled a question to Dublin city manager on the issue and has even spoken to gardaí.

“If this was any other trader or person trying to sell goods, this would not be allowed. I know people who try to avoid them and the streets they are on but they can be hard to get by. This is hard sell stuff that I find repugnant and insulting.”