The head of a business group says an increase in Dublin clamping fines won't make a dramatic difference to people.
Richard Guiney, CEO of DublinTown, describes clamping as a "necessary evil" for the capital.
He was speaking as fees are set to increase in the city centre for the first time in over 20 years.
The release fee for clamped vehicles in Dublin is to increase from €80 to €125 at the beginning of next month.
Mr Guiney says the practice seems to work as a deterrent.
"Our view would be that clamping is probably one of those necessary evils.
"It's been around since the late '90s and it does have an effect - the illegal parking, people spending all day at a space and hogging it, and the disruptive parking that we would have had before certainly has been addressed.
"So on balance, yeah - I have to say it's probably something that works."
On the increase in fees, he says most people aren't put off from coming into the city.
"In terms of the €80, it's been at that level for quite a number of years.
"I think you're going to be upset to pay €80 or €125 - I don't think the increase is going to make that dramatic a difference.
"The clamping has instilled, I suppose, a greater discipline on drivers.
"They don't tend to illegally park to the extent that would have happened back in the '90s".
