Gannon criticises lack of progress on updated nightlife laws

Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon has criticised the glacial pace in updating Ireland’s night-time economy laws.

In 2021, to much fanfare, Minister Catherine Martin published a report of the night-time economy task force which set out a few dozen recommendations to bring Irish nightlife up to the standard of other European cities, with later opening hours a major tenant of the plan.

Three years on from the plan being announced, the Social Democrats TD has challenged the Minister to pick up the pace on the issue. 

While acknowledging that Martin commissioned the report to begin with, he feels that there is an element of missed potential with the plan.

“I look around Dublin, our capital city, which all but closes down by 9 p.m., with the exception of pubs and nightclubs. It is welcome that the Minister has enhanced the nightclub sector, but it also needs support.”

Gannon cited the absence from other government in any plans to upgrade Dublin’s nightlife, and called for greater cross-department collaboration on the matter.

“I do not believe that there is some degree of collaboration across the Departments that sit around the table. For example, the Department of Housing has a huge role to play by looking at vacancies and how we can bring those back into action.”

“Will the night-time economy be enhanced? Will we see the city not closing down after 10 p.m?” he asked. 

Martin replied by saying that her department has funded night-time economy advisors in nine locations across Ireland as part of an ongoing pilot basis, and said that the issue of updating Ireland’s night-economy was a gradual roll-out.

“The night-time economy remains a dynamic policy area with complex issues to resolve, but also wonderful opportunities to grasp. The collaboration and support of all key stakeholders are vital, and we will continue to add new actions where needed,” she said.

“We are not afraid to try new things and work with the sector to put in place supports and initiatives that can create opportunities and new thinking. That includes collaboration with the Department of housing, which the Deputy has mentioned. The Department of Justice is another key Department in this consultation and cross-departmental and cross-government approach.”

Martin also said that Dublin City Council will “shortly” publish their plan on the issue.

Gannon noted that the changing of opening hours has the power to be “transformative,” saying “at 2.30 a.m., we continue to see every nightclub in the city opening its doors to send its patrons onto the streets and that does not serve any of us well.”

“ I would love to see a continued leadership by the Minister in that field. I hope she might say if we will see that law before her time in government comes to an end.”

For her part, Martin said, “I have made no secret that I am in support of the reform of our licensing laws, and the Minister for Justice and her officials are continuing to work on reforming this complex legislation.”

“It is my understanding that it is still the Minister’s intention to publish the Bill. The modernisation of these laws will be vital to helping support businesses in the night-time economy, allowing them to innovate, breathe life into our cities and grow in a modern and diverse society.”