Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and welcome the campaigners in the Gallery. In particular I welcome Sunil Sharpe from the Give Us The Night campaign. Since my time on Dublin City Council, he has been highlighting and putting on the agenda the decline in the sector and the challenges that have faced the night-time economy. I also pay tribute to Councillor Claire Byrne of the Green Party. For a long time she has been an advocate for the night-time economy at city level. I also thank Senator Warfield for doing so at national level.

The night-time economy task force was set up to try to help revive the sector, which was decimated over the course of the pandemic. The reality is that many of the issues precede Covid. The Minister has conducted public consultation on reform of the licensing laws. During the two years of the pandemic, however, we could have been preparing for the revival of the night-time economy. Instead there has been a revert back to the old system. Popular club nights such as Sunday Social have had to close. One of the most innovative club promoters in the city, Buzz O'Neill, has said it is not possible to run a club night for two hours a day. It is a great loss to the city. Twenty years ago we had the POD, the Kitchen and Rí-Rá. There was a vibrant nightclub scene in Dublin. That is not there. They are closing down.