Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the House. I am delighted to be here to support this motion. I thank Senator Warfield and his colleagues in Sinn Féin for tabling the motion and allowing us to debate a crucial issue.

There is no doubt nightlife is a central part of our cultural life. It brings vibrancy to our cities and towns and provides a much-needed release from the pressures and drudgery of the working week. The importance of nightlife, cultural institutions and socialising with friends and loved ones was emphasised by the pandemic, for sure. Sometimes being deprived of something makes one realise how essential it is. As we return to some semblance of normality it is the perfect time to discuss the challenges now facing the night-time economy and how we can work as legislators to revitalise the sector.

I also appreciate the motion includes reference to the existing alcohol-centred view of nightlife and proposes a more holistic view that includes broader cultural events accessible to those who do not consume alcohol, like myself.

There is no doubt the figures are stark. In the year 2000, there were 522 nightclubs and now there are only 85. That is quite shocking. It is an extraordinary loss to our cultural life. It is not only nightclubs we are losing but, as colleagues have said, also theatres like the Tivoli, which was a local of mine also, and other artistic and cultural spaces. There are many reasons for this loss. Chief among them is the extortionate cost of rent and insurance. The second is lopsided and out-of-control development. We are seeing the loss of places like The Globe and The Library Bar to be replaced by yet another hotel. As Dublin demolishes more and more cultural spaces to facilitate tourism, one worries that instead of being a cultural centre it will become a culturally-themed tourist attraction.

The licensing system as it stands is illogical and antiquated. The special exemption orders required to operate late hours are a massive, unwieldy burden placed on operators seeking to extend their hours. It is hard not to perceive them as almost a form of punishment.

I am glad the motion references the importance of developing a viable 24-hour public transportation network. That is fantastic. The roll-out of a 24-hour bus service is welcome but unfortunately progress has been rather slow. I note most of the new BusConnects spines have some 24-hour routes but the NTA should clarify whether it will introduce a 24-hour service on existing routes in the meantime. A 24-hour service has been on the agenda for years and the public deserve a roadmap for when they might be able to avail of it. Public transport that runs 24 hours a day is not only an essential ingredient of a vibrant night-time economy but it is also essential for providing workers and revellers with a safe an affordable way home. Taxis make up an important part of our public transportation ecosystem, especially at night, but unfortunately the shortage of taxis in the capital is evident and people are often left stranded and unable to get home, or are forced to walk long distances feeling unsafe.

One section of the motion that is particularly appealing is the granting and renewal of licences to operate being contingent on operators' adherence to employment law. Workers working in nightlife require real enforcement of their rights in an industry where issues such as precarious work, sexual harassment and illegal unpaid trial shifts are often common. Linking compliance to the ability to operate would give employment law real teeth.

I did not make it to Senator Warfield's briefing on the motion today, though my parliamentary assistant was there, but he noted Senator Higgins made an excellent suggestion that licences also be tied to compliance with anti-discrimination laws. I hope she will talk more about this. This would be really welcome, given the persistent issue with racist refusals of Travellers and other ethnic minorities at licensed premises. In their submission to the review of the equality Acts, the Free Legal Advice Centres and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission both highlighted that while the Workplace Relations Commission is supposed to handle anti-discrimination cases in the first instance, these refusals are dealt with in the District Court under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003. This makes it more difficult for victims of discrimination of this type to access justice. This disparity needs to be reformed. Conditioning licensing on compliance with non-discrimination law would help reduce discrimination in the first instance.

I welcome that the Government has demonstrated a commitment to supporting artists and creatives. The basic income for artists pilot scheme is evidence of that and is very warmly welcomed but there needs to be a much more ambitious and forward-thinking approach to revitalising Irish nightlife and creating a vibrant, diverse and community-oriented cultural sector. This motion definitely presents a comprehensive and creative intervention into the debate on licensing reform and the revitalisation of nightlife. I say "Well done" again to Senator Warfield and welcome all our guests to the Chamber who have put lots of work into this motion. I have no doubts about it; this motion has my enthusiastic support.