A motion calling on the Government to legislate for the outlawing of the purchase of mobile phones, SIM cards, and other electronic communication devices without a valid form of identification has been passed by the Galway City Council.
The motion was proposed by Galway City East councillor Mike Crowe who said he could not understand how any country would allow a person to buy a phone without ID.
He told the chamber at Leisureland on Monday evening; "My understanding is you can walk into any shop and buy a phone with no ID. A lot of these phones are used in crime. Throw away phones and number is not traceable.
Big Brother is listening?
"It makes no sense to me that a western democracy would allow any person to buy a phone with no ID. In my view, it would be best for society that a phone was purchased with valid ID. You can't open a bank account without jumping through 10 or 15 hoops."
Fine Gael councillor Eddie Hoare, who seconded the motion, said in terms of anti-crime prevention it would be an important message to send out. However Independent councillor Colette Connolly believed the motion provided too much Government oversight, saying it felt like "Big Brother".
The motion was passed eight for, five against, one abstention, and four absent.
