Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. I am 33 years of age, which is not old, and I enjoy going out, but I get a pain in my ears and face in venues where the music is so loud that one cannot speak to people. If I wanted such, I would go to a rock concert, where it would be expected.

Recently, I was in a small pub in west County Clare where the musician's speakers were almost as big as the pub. I do not know where he thought he was playing. If he had been playing at Croke Park, I would have said that was fair enough. Last weekend, I attended a function where no one, including young people, could speak because the band was playing too loudly for the room in question.

A man I know is almost deaf and forks out €3,000 on hearing aids. The Department of Social and Family Affairs pays half the cost. I do not know whether there are inspectors to monitor noise levels and issue guidelines. Some of my friends are involved in bands, but if they are exposed to unnecessarily loud noise levels, their hearing will deteriorate in the long term. The public deserves protection.

We have all attended weddings, functions and dinner dances where the noise level was ridiculous. Recently, I attended a dinner dance at my local GAA club where a fantastic band played. While the music was loud enough to sing or dance to, it was not difficult to speak to people off the dance floor, which is as it should be.

For musicians and the public, this is a health and safety issue in respect of which the Department should have guidelines and inspectors to fine bands and venue managers in breach of the guidelines. A noise pollution Bill was passed by the Dáil, but I am unsure whether it referred to this proposal.

I am not trying to come across as an old fogey. I look forward to going to many dinner dances in the future but I want to enjoy myself at them. Having to shout in someone's face and repeat oneself three or four times is not fun anymore. We owe it to the public to have guidelines in place, with a team of inspectors who can monitor the noise levels and make the management of venues responsible so patrons who pay to attend these functions enjoy themselves. A rock concert is different because if people go to get their ears blown off, that is their choice. There should, however, be a limit at other functions and guidelines should be in place.