Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I compliment Dublin City Council on the peaceful removal of protestors from Dame Street. It was inappropriate that they were allowed to reside there for so long. With the approach of St. Patrick's Day, the city needs to look its best. While we all agree that protesting should be allowed and is an important function of democracy, that one was inappropriate for our city.

I also wish to compliment Dublin City Council on its plans for Grafton Street. It is our main shopping street and up to 12,000 people visit it each Saturday alone. The paving was never done properly. As regards liability, I can only imagine how many claims have been made as a result of people slipping and falling on that street, especially on the white tiles which were unsuitable.

Greater measures are needed to ensure that we have the proper type of businesses on Grafton Street. In recent years, we have seen all sorts of less appropriate businesses in the Grafton Street area, which bring down the atmosphere there. It is indirectly the area of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, but the matter should be addressed.