Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

601. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the actions arising from the report of the task force, that concluded its work in 2010, on the planning and land use implications of the siting and location of adult entertainment venues; the main recommendations of the report; the recommendations which were not accepted; the recommendations on which there was no follow-up action; and if he will undertake to publish the report forthwith. [24892/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Task Force on Adult Entertainment referred to was established by a previous Minister in 2007 and met twice in 2007 and a third time in January 2008. Following the deliberations of the Task Force, at that stage, the main thrust of the emerging recommendations was the introduction of a national licensing regime applied to Adult Entertainment activity under the proposed Casino regulation then being brought forward by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (including a requirement for production of a tax compliance certificate) and the introduction of a new special restricted film classification by the Irish Film Censors Office to encompass certain DVD’s and videos. In the event however, a final Report was not submitted to the Minister and the Government and it may be that these recommendations are no longer relevant or are overtaken by events.

Planning law has been amended a number of times recent years, but no amendment has been made in relation to the siting of adult entertainment venues. I will reflect on whether it is appropriate to make any changes to planning law in this area; this will need to take account of the fact that planning is largely concerned with the appropriateness of a particular development in terms of its land use impacts, such as amenity, visual impact, noise, traffic, overlooking, environmental effects, etc. It is unclear that adult shops have any such additional land use impacts as distinct from other shops, such that they should be governed by planning law; however, I will consider the matter further.