Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here to talk us through this. In many ways the hospitality sector was almost accidentally revolutionised by restrictions during Covid. Just last December I found myself having a late-night drink outdoors outside Courtney's in Lucan, one of my locals. I would never have dreamed of doing that during the height of winter a couple of years ago and I'm sure Courtney's would not have dreamed of offering it as somewhere to dine at that point in time. It is cold, it is dark, it does not make sense and yet it does. It is completely and utterly practical. It makes sense from a business perspective and creates a very enjoyable and, at the time, safe social experience.

Many businesses in the hospitality sector used that as an opportunity to increase their footprint. Some of them did it in car parks or in backyards. I am thinking of the graveyard in Kenny's in Lucan. Others did it spilling onto the streets. That is the street furniture aspect we are discussing in the context of our public spaces. During Covid, we all got to see the value of the public realm. Local authorities up and down the country, including my own South Dublin County Council, invested hugely in the upkeep of the public realm during that time when we as a society really needed it. Street furniture injects vibrancy into villages and for that reason what the Minister is bringing is really welcome. However, it only injects vibrancy when it does not spill out onto the street in a way that becomes a trip hazard or in any way inhibits accessibility and when it is aesthetically pleasing and fits with the character of a village. Thinking in particular of the winter months when some places might store their items up, we should not allow dismantled outdoor areas on footpaths. We need to ensure that is not happening but I absolutely welcome this.