The Transport Minister has unveiled plans to "clamp down on clampers". Leo Varadkar was given Cabinet approval today to draft new legislation to regulate the industry.

One of the main measures will be to cap the release fee on public or private clamping at €80.

Once the laws are drafted by the Attorney-General, the National Transport Authority (NTA) will regulate clamping, relocation, and removal of unauthorised vehicles and it will license any activities associated with clamping.

Appeals process 

It will also oversee a two-tier appeals process where aggrieved customers will be able to appeal to the operator followed by an appeal to the NTA if they remain unsatisfied.

Minister Varadkar hopes the measures will clean up the clamping industry though he held back from naming and shaming any rogue clamping operations.

"Well I don't particularly want to finger any individual or talk about any part of the country but we all know there have been cases where people have been treated unfairly by clampers" he said.