Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not his remit. There have been issues with people retiring and so on. It has not been an easy one. Government has had to intervene and step in with €10 million to support postmasters and will continue to intervene to support postmasters. I want to put on record that I think overall and in difficult circumstances he has done a good job.

Deputy Ó Murchú asked about the public realm. They are not ten wasted opportunities.

Deputy McAuliffe made a proposal around a special purpose vehicle. We are actively looking at that in terms of the presentation of the memo. Temple Bar and other initiatives that have had an impact involved legally created special purpose vehicles that had authority to get things done and did actually deliver a lot in their day. We are examining that in respect of the outcome of the Dublin task force.

The public realm needs enhancement and Deputy Brabazon focused on that as well in terms of a safe streetscape. It is worrying that in the modern era, an increasing number of people are expressing fear of going into city centres, not just in Dublin but also elsewhere. The Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, told me there was a significant group of European officials in last week and they thought Dublin city was great. I agree with Deputy McAuliffe that Dublin is a great city, but a lot of stuff is happening that gives people a sense of fear of going into the city centre at night.

Regarding the issue Deputy Heneghan raised, I think the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is progressing that. I will check with him. There has been a seesaw approach to late night openings. Licensing laws are notoriously difficult. We need to consider all the patterns of behaviour that have changed.

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