Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her husband, Paul. With the strong footballing genes, I hope that in future their son declares for County Roscommon.

While I welcome yesterday's decision by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to waive the €125 per table licence fee for outdoor dining, Government support needs to go much further. On average we have 225 days of rain per year in this country. If there is to be a shift of the mindset in Ireland to outdoor dining, it will require a significant outlay by businesses which have been the worst hit by the pandemic to date. This does not just relate to furniture, but also to heating and insurance. Those businesses will need to make a serious financial commitment and we need to support them by waiving that fee, not just for some months but for five years for anyone who establishes such services this year. I hope the period can be extended.

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