Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I will try to be brief, given the time. I have a number of issues on which I require clarification from the Minister.

I have raised on a number of occasions the titles of institutions and so on. Where section 1 of the Bill states " 'Convention Centre' means the National Conference Centre", my preference would be " 'Convention Centre' means an Lárionad Náisiúnta Comhdhála or, in the English language, the National Conference Centre". However, I will not push this issue to a vote. This would give an acronym of LINC, and we know that people remember acronyms. NCC does not really grab one, but LINC might.

The next definition in section 1 states: " 'convention event' means a conference, congress, convention, seminar or symposium", but this does not include the word "meeting". Perhaps this word should be added to encompass gatherings of, for example, eight people. I do not know why it is not there.

It is also stated that "non-convention event" means a trade fair, live sporting event, reception, dinner or similar. Does this refer to a live sporting event within the conference centre or could it be a televised event? There are live sporting events on television continuously. This has implications with regard to the area being designated for alcohol and whether it will compete against other facilities in the area.

Concerts are not covered by the Bill either. This is not to say I want the conference centre to compete with the Point, the Grand Canal theatre or Croke Park etc., but it seems to be already competing with them in terms of the delivery of some services. Why, therefore, are concerts not included?

Like other Deputies, I do not understand why we need stand-alone legislation for the conference centre. Would the normal bar or theatre licence not cover it? What other stand alone licences have been issued in this format? Perhaps the National Concert Hall might have such a licence, but I am not certain.

With regard to the hours, the legislation allows, for example, for the facility to be opened at 10.30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Some clever people who might want an early drink might book a conference from 10.30 a.m. until 12.15 p.m. in order to bypass the current Sunday opening hours. The question of Good Friday and Christmas Day has already been mentioned.

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