Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to know where to start. There are more than 400 pages in the heads of the Bill, and we are probably focusing on only parts of them. There are definitely threads across all of the submissions that I read, and certain aspects are coming up. Obviously, I worked in addiction for a long time, so my public health hat is always there. However, I often feel as if people's health is scapegoated in order to keep out of spaces in terms night life, culture, the arts and all those things. Back in the 1990s, when the nightclub scene was practically squashed - the Ormond closed - raves popped up in communities where public health was more at risk. They pop up now in warehouses. There are illegal raves all over the country all the time that are not being managed.

I am admitting to being at them now, but I have never seen any need for gardaí outside any warehouse that I have ever visited. Therefore, the idea that there is a public order fear is quashed somewhat as well when there is that phase-out over the course of the night. Some people will go home at midnight and some people will go home-----