Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We can recall why this arrangement was required. There was discussion about whether by-laws or primary legislation were needed. I think it was obvious to some of us that it was going to need primary legislation. I appreciate this is a stopgap measure. I agree it would be ideal if we had a more permanent solution.

Outdoor seating areas were a vital support to pubs and restaurants, and indeed to the public, during the pandemic. Such areas are a perfect example of one of the changes made during Covid that had a benefit for more than the time they were required. The past two years have helped us change our collective thinking about the use of public and outdoor spaces. Some of that is about activity in places other than pubs. We need to run with some of the changes. We need to continue to optimise our town and city centres for people rather than just cars. Innovative use has been made of public spaces over the past two years. Some - not all - of that usage should be made permanent. The pedestrianisation of Capel Street is a prime example of the innovative use of public spaces. It was a street that people were not particularly happy to walk up and down. The kind of passive security that comes with people being out is something we should not discount. It opens up streets that are not otherwise available to people because they do not feel safe on them. Very often, the streets that people feel less safe on are the quieter streets. Let us start thinking in a wider sense about the benefit of this arrangement. Obviously, it revives community spirit and things like that. It also has to be reconciled with the other demands on spaces. One of the important things is that it improves safety.

When considering outdoor areas on a permanent basis, it is also an opportunity to rethink long term. We have all been in places in different parts of the world where design is built into having an outdoor space. There are arched aspects to the front of buildings. This caters for the rain but also provides an outdoor space at the same time. We must learn from the pandemic. People actually like having the choice between outdoor and indoor spaces. There was a good reason it was required during the pandemic. If we are looking at street design, it is important to get local authorities to start looking at their development plans in relation to building design.

There has been a great deal of good work done in that area on streetscapes, shopfronts and things like that. The design of these outdoor spaces must match the objective of getting good visual street spaces, shopfronts and such things. Some of that will occur at local government level but we should be looking at where there is good design to ensure it is replicated rather than some of the things we have seen. There is a plethora of parasols with alcohol advertising, for example. Some of that is not that good visually. It was needed for a time but we should be looking at the best visual approach as well as the best way of using that space.

We all agree on the prominent alcohol branding issue. On the one hand, we are talking about not allowing alcohol advertising before the watershed and on the other hand, every public street has such big advertisements. We need to be thinking about things that are a little inconsistent. I understand that the Department is working on legislation around waiving council fees. One will have something of a conundrum when it comes to the issue of how one rates the space provided on a footpath, and whether the business is viable in terms of the additional cost. Some thinking needs to happen on this. It is essential that we do not impede people who have visual or physical movement difficulties. This has to be well thought out. It must be catered for and cannot be an impediment. There must be an inclusive space that people with disabilities, whatever they are, can equally enjoy. On occasions, it has been an impediment to actually get into the physical building rather than into the outside space.

The revaluations will be another issue. They could take a great deal of time if there is to be a change in rates. That is something that will need to be very carefully considered. One could be waiving the fee on one side to allow this to happen and could be adding a commercial rate on the other side. We must allow some time for a recovery in that sector so that we can have those kinds of choices for people in their own localities and for people who are visiting the locality also. We have probably all become a little bit more introverted where we start losing that collective sense and it is important that we do not lose that. I would like to see this arrangement made on a more permanent basis.

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