Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 105:

In page 52, line 23, after “maintain” to insert “, retain or relocate”.

I think I have four amendments to this section, which relates to licensing. Section 12(2) begins by stating "Subject to subsections (3) and (12), a person shall not erect, construct, place or maintain— ..." and then lists what a licence is needed for. It might be improved by adding the words "retain or relocate". Let us say somebody needs a licence for something, does not have it and is pursued by the local authority for that. They can move it, whether it is advertising structures or something more significant. I am therefore suggesting we include the words "retain or relocate". The word "retain" is there because somebody could say they did not put the structure there, even though they are responsible for retaining it in place. I am thinking especially of the talk about all the clutter we see on our footpaths which requires licensing. It can be a real impediment to people who have mobility issues and is one of those grey areas. I remember doing a bit of a survey on the amount of street clutter in my town and searching to see how many people had applied for a section 254 licence and I could not find any record of it at all. I have no problem with people advertising their business, they need as much help as they can possibly get, but not where it impacts pedestrians and especially people with mobility issues, visual impairment or whatever it might be. It is just to try to tighten up the wording on that.

Amendment No. 106 relates to section 12(2)(g), which refers to "a telephone kiosk or pedestal". We see a lot of these telephone kiosks being put in place now and they are more an advertising structure with a telephone inside than a telephone kiosk. I see Eircom or whatever it is called now is removing a lot of telephone boxes at the moment, but we are seeing them getting replaced by very flashy advertising structures. They are placed to advertise to people so they will have the most effect. I do not mind people advertising to the greatest effect, but they are often orientated in a direction that impedes the footpath. The widest part faces the flow of where people are trying to walk. They should be placed where they present least obstruction. I cannot find my exact wording, which may not be accurate enough. I apologise, I think I have skipped on to amendment No. 111. Have I?