Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I commend her on her work in terms of the night-time economy. The night-time economy task force has invited submissions. The process is well under way and the report of the night-time economy task force is due to be published soon. When will we expect a report from the night-time economy task force? Will it be laid before these Houses? I commend the Minister's work on it and her commitment to it.

The night-time economy and industry cannot reopen on the same basis on which it was closed. There are myriad good reasons we need a better nightlife and use of our cities around the clock. Tourism is one of them. Many people visit European cities on the basis of their nightlife.Many people visit Dublin on the basis of our nightlife. I note the Dublin Chamber submission to the night-time economy task force states:

The night-time economy is a key aspect of life in Dublin, as the city is home to world famous theatres and bars and is internationally known as a great city to visit. However, Dublin Chamber recognises that the current regulations, licensing laws, restrictions and lack of supportive infrastructure have resulted in the night-time economy not being able to achieve its full potential.

From a business perspective, we would not dare say that any business should close at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., so I do not know why we force businesses to close at 2.30 at night, at the latest, and that is only after they apply for a special exemption order. Every year, millions of euro in court, solicitor and legal fees and tax leave the entertainment, cultural and hospitality industries in Dublin and our other major cities just to allow businesses to stay open from 12.30 a.m. until 2.30 a.m. When we compare Dublin to other cities around Europe, the restrictions on our night-time culture and industry are huge.

Dublin is obviously very attractive for weekend visits. I am sure the Minister, as a member of the Green Party, has something to say about weekend trips. I appreciate that as well. I once looked at getting the train from Brussels to Amsterdam on a holiday and it was more expensive than getting a flight. It is cheaper to take a flight between two European cities than it is to take the train. Dublin is an attractive city for weekend visitors but we need an offering that goes beyond tea and biscuit culture.

I know the National Gallery is engaged with the night-time economy task force, as are the other national cultural institutions. Dublin Chamber refers to St. Stephen's Green. Why do all of these places close at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. at the latest? We need to think differently and not be wedded to this idea that culture stops at a certain hour. Clubbing and bars are culture. They are a key part of our cultural attraction and should be a better part of it.

I mentioned there are a myriad of reasons the night-time economy is important for people who live here. No one would contest that the GAA and the church are not hugely important for people to socialise for all the reasons I mentioned. People need to socialise and interact; nightlife and the night economy are a huge part of that. We cannot reopen this sector, given its importance to jobs and hospitality, on the same basis as it closed.