Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My addition on that has to do with enforcement. I fully support these measures, the extension of them and their possibly being made permanent. It has led to a resurgence of the hospitality industry and to a very positive public space and amenity. However, at the same time during Covid we have seen a proliferation of coffee bars popping up in former car showrooms, car parks and areas that are not aligned to existing hospitality provisions. It is not aligned to particular bars or restaurants at the moment but places that were not heretofore hospitality venues. I am a little concerned that in the new culture we are embracing we are discriminating and setting businesses back, or perhaps with a lack of enforcement facilitating unlicensed competition for existing premises and service providers. This is by virtue of our now having this casual provision that is not, in many cases, going through proper licensing and is not subjected to the proper provisions, even though they look like they are. It is aligned to this so I would welcome the Minister's comments on that.