Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The death of our town centres is a continuing nightmare and it is happening before our eyes. Last week I spoke about retailers who represent 90,000 jobs in 4,000 family-run businesses. There are inconsistencies around the country in local authority business rates, parking rates, parking fines and the threat of clamping in town centres. This poses a real problem for these businesses because consumers drive to large out-of-town shopping malls where they can park for free and shop in giant multinational stores. After five austerity budgets our businesses are under threat. Will the Senators here today who come from different parts of the country think about their local authorities and come up with some solutions to create consistency, such as guidelines, free parking days, or a levy on parking in the out-of-town shopping malls.

I use the American word 'mall' because this trend started in America. Almost all of the Senators have visited America; they have certainly visited England and have seen the death of town centres and high streets there. That is what we are presiding over here. Most of the Senators will hopefully visit some part of Ireland over the Easter holiday. I was in Claremorris over the weekend, and drove through Roscommon. Our town centres are dying. I would like the Leader to include this subject in our upcoming debate on action for jobs and advise us when that will happen. Will he also advise us which Minister is responsible for this problem? Is it the Minister with responsibility for tourism? What will tourists see in Ireland if there are no town centres left? Will they see shopping malls outside towns and towns with tumbleweed rolling up and down the street and a few charity shops and bookies' premises? That is all that will be left in town centres but people have to pay to park there and place their bets. Should we invite in the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, or the Taoiseach? That may sound over-dramatic but these towns are the life and breath of Ireland.