Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will add to the points made by Deputy Ó Broin. In regard to the circular to the local authorities about guidance on this, it would be very helpful if they were asked to issue guidance to those businesses owners where they know these tables and chairs licences are in place just to remind them. It has been in place for two years and sometimes clutter can become normalised just because of the extent of time it has been there. That would be helpful.

On the telephone kiosks, I suggest that we might look at something in the planning regulations that will go into the planning Bill as well. The orientation of kiosks should be where they offer the least resistance to pedestrians. At the moment, they are placed face on to the pedestrians because they are primarily for the purpose of advertising. If they were made to go the other way, it would not be half as attractive as an advertising opportunity. It certainly would not be lit up because there would be a traffic impact then on the traffic-facing side. It is something we will consider in the context of the planning Bill as well.

Members have had the opportunity to consider the draft regulations. We have done the reverse vending machines, the fees and the bus poles. As we have now completed our consideration, the clerk will send a message to that effect to the clerks of the Dáil and the Seanad.

I thank the Minister of State, his officials and Mr Creegan. for their attendance. We will suspend the meeting for five minutes before moving to our second session, at which we will deal with the other two planning exemptions with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell.