The Green Party has welcomed the removal of so-called ‘mosquito alarms’ outside apartments in Dublin’s north inner city. They were placed on the public walkway between The Steelworks and the Liberty House complex, which lies between Railway Street and Foley Street in Dublin 1. The alarms were apparently installed by Dublin City Council on foot of advice received from An Garda Síochána. These alarms emit a high-pitched whine that can cause distress to young people and to those who use hearing aids. On 10th June Paul Rutherford, a Senior Environmental Health Officer with Dublin City Council’s Air Quality Monitoring and Noise Control Unit, wrote to Councillor Cuffe stating that the alarms were installed by the Dublin City Council’s Central area Office to deter antisocial behaviour in the area, and that they were advised by the Gardai to install them as a deterrent. However on foot of the complaints by residents and others including Councillor Cuffe the alarms were removed last Friday evening 6th July.Speaking following their removal, Councillor Ciarán Cuffe said: “Following complaints from several residents I made my concerns known to our Environmental Health officers. I was disappointed to hear that they were installed by Dublin City Council, and I have asked our staff to consider alternative methods of tackling anti-social behaviour as mosquito alarms discriminate against young people and are a form of assault.“The very design of the alarm is designed to discriminate against young people by assuming only those under the age of 25 are capable of misconduct. Anyone who is loitering can set the alarm off, but only young people are subjected to hearing the painful noise. This means that any young passer-by within 30 to 40 metres of the alarm is punished for a transgression they did not commit. Additionally, the device can adversely affect autistic young people and infants, and those using hearing aids.“I now intend working with my colleagues on Dublin City Council to ensure that these devices are banned from our city.”ENDSIssued 12th July 2018, uploaded 18th July 2018