I, too, would like to wish Sarah a very happy birthday.

Sentiment score: 0.85

I agree with the majority of what people have said. This was brought in during Covid. It was definitely a crutch for the hospitality industry. I represent north Dublin. Outdoor seating was recently closed on Drury Street and there is a constant attack on amenities in outdoor areas. At a time when pubs and people are under enormous pressure and we constantly sit at desks, getting out, sitting in the sun with your friends and having a meal, a drink or a pint should be encouraged. I, too, am worried about the number of pubs closing across Ireland, in particular rural Ireland. In Dublin city, people complain and use the excuse of litter. Well, then install more bins, create more jobs and have people take those bins. If there is a bin, people will not throw litter on the ground. They will put it in the bin. We love this city and we want to encourage people to love it. I have been to Barcelona and went across European inter-railing. I saw vibrant, outdoor, liveable cities. We have seen it in small parts of Dublin but it needs to be encouraged across Ireland. We do not need more empty streets. We need energy, culture and community. The recommendations of the report show this. Outdoor dining and socialising brings people into the city and makes it safer with passerby surveillance, more welcoming and more alive. In some pubs and businesses across north Dublin, accessibility for those with disabilities is easier with outdoor dining, as there can be difficulties inside the building. That is why this extension matters. I welcome it. I was out yesterday cycling on a sunny evening through Dublin. The streets are full of life but people are sitting on the ground. Restaurants and pubs have some outdoor areas but when someone finishes work in the city, they should be able to meet up with friends and spend time in the city instead of rushing home. Like Deputy Lawless, I welcome the very good weather. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy it and take a break. When this legislation was first introduced, I was working in a pub. We got our outdoor area and that has now become a hub for the community. There are community groups in the area, and they meet outside and sit in the sun. It should be continuously encouraged not only because of the pressure pubs are under but also the pressure people are under. For many publicans, outdoor seating is part of staying financially viable. These pubs are not just businesses. As the Minister of State knows, a good chunk of rural and urban pubs are family owned for three, four or five generations with the name still outside. They are community spaces and they are also where some political careers can start. I do not mention rural Ireland much. The local pub is one of the last remaining public buildings in a lot of towns. The Minister of State knows that it is not just a pub. It is where someone goes to find out the news or where someone who has lost a family member goes to have a chat. We should encourage those places to survive. Regarding Dublin and the excuse of litter being an issue, install more bins. It cannot be used an excuse. Where stronger enforcement is concerned, I thank the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, for the increase in the number of gardaí on the beat. If footpath access is a concern, I called for an extension in respect of pubs if we had qualified for the World Cup, which sadly we did not. We cannot respond to everything by restricting. We need to be proactive and preventative. That needs to be across Departments, not just with this matter. European cities embrace outdoor life and create atmosphere. I welcome that the Department has introduced legislation to extend this provision, but it should be happening across the board. It would also provide clarity for businesses if it was brought into legislation fully, not just an extension, because businesses could then plan financially on the understanding that the income they get from these areas could be used as a collateral for expansion and for more staff to take on permanent roles. We constantly talk about reviving Dublin city. This is a practical way. If it is brought in and made permanent there would be a more vibrant, safer city.

Sentiment score: 0.20