Trinity College Dublin has recently carried out the first car clamping on campus. The College Communications Office has declined to comment on the incident. 

According to campus regulations, parking permits are strictly issued to staff members only. In order to apply for a parking permit, staff members must supply a copy of their driving licence, vehicle registration certificate and insurance certificate. 

The precise reason as to why the vehicle was clamped is not known.

The maximum number of parking spaces is a quota of 1 permit to 0.24 spaces, which allows Trinity College Dublin to issue a total of 1565 permits. 

Despite the large amount of applications, the Car Parking Workshop Group agreed that no car parking permits could be issued in any of the circumstances outlined without setting a precedent. 

The Secretary of the Car Parking Workshop advised that difficulties could arise in recruiting high calibre staff in a situation where there is competition among universities at home and abroad for such staff. 

He also noted that the College has no scope to offer financial inducements to potential staff with internationally recognised abilities whose appointment would be of significant benefit to the College. In certain situations, according to the Secretary, it is disadvantageous to the College that it is not in the position even to offer a parking space to such potential employees. 

The next Car Parking Workshop is set to meet later this year to study the long term implications of for car parking in the College.