A Fianna Fáil senator wants to take action against seagulls.

Ned O'Sullivan says "raucous" and "cheeky" birds are causing hassle for people.

He said people who live in apartment blocks are being plagued by the birds, and something must be done.

He said: "I think something needs to be done to address the seagull problem here in this city. People may have been listening to Joe Duffy talking about it last week.

"It seems the seagulls have lost the run of themselves completely. They are very raucous, they are keeping people awake, they are getting so cheeky now that they attack young children, and dispossess them of their lollipops.

"It might be funny to people, but it's a serious issue in the city. They are not seagulls, they are vermin, scavenger gulls."

He concluded by demanding that the new Environment Minister Alan Kelly examine what can be done.