Speech by Minister Martin at Licensing Reform launch
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
By: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Catherine Martin
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
By: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Catherine Martin
Published on
Last updated on
Check against delivery
Tánaiste, Minister McEntee, Minister McConalogue
Is lá tábhachtach é seo don Gheilleagar Oíche agus tá sé oiriúnach go bhfuil muid anseo inniu san Acadamh Ibeirneach Ríoga – áit chruthaitheachta agus nuálaíochta agus muid ag fógairt pleananna do nuachóiriú ár ndlíthe ceadúnaithe (Today is an important milestone for the Night-Time Economy and it’s fitting that we are here today in the Royal Hibernian Academy – a place of creativity and innovation as we announce plans for the modernisation of our licensing laws).
When I launched the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report back in September last year I quoted Ernest Hemingway and I think it’s worth quoting again on this significant occasion “Without the night, we never see the stars, without the night, there is no day and without the night, there are no dreams. So let’s take back our nights”. Today's government decision on the proposed approach to licensing reform will allow us to take back our nights and is a crucial milestone for all of those working in the Night-Time Economy and for all of those who have long campaigned for a modernisation of what we know are outdated and out of step licensing laws. I would like to thank Sunil Sharpe and Robbie Kitt in particular and all those in the industry who have worked tirelessly and constructively to bring about lasting changes to our Night-Time Economy. Today is an important milestone for all of us.
The proposed reforms are a major step in the right direction for all those working and making a living in the Night-Time Economy Sector. It proposes efficiency, transparency and clarity and a streamlining of our antiquated licensing legislation, bringing it into the 21st century. I hope this will create more freedom and innovation for the sector and open up opportunities for a more diverse and inclusive Night-Time Economy while balancing the needs of our communities and public health.
During the Summer, I co-hosted a workshop on Planning in the Night-Time Economy with my colleague in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Minister of State Malcolm Noonan and I was struck by the passion and innovation in the room - a room made up of venue owners, artists, promoters, planners and officials from all the relevant departments and agencies, national and local government – all wanted to see opportunities maximised and obstacles overcome and licensing was one of the ley challenges raised during that workshop. This is why today is such an important step in helping to make the most out of our Night-Time Economy and remove as many obstacles as possible to innovation and creativity.
This proposed licensing reform was already a key recommendation of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce which I established to drive a more vibrant, diverse and sustainable Night-Time Economy and I very much welcome the proposal for later opening hours and a more transparent way of dealing with nightclubs and late bars – this will bring us more in line with other European cities and I hope allow more activity in this space with quality acts and opportunities for artists.
I also welcome many of the changes put forward regarding the provision of a cultural amenity licence which has the potential to encourage more opportunities in the cultural and Night-Time Economy sectors with accessible licensing options for cultural venues and a proposed streamlining of current processes.
This licensing reform is part of a wider effort to create a more dynamic and sustainable Night-Time Economy right across the country. Our National Cultural Institutions for example are really pushing boundaries with the National Concert Hall selling out two nights for their recent “Haunted” electronic music festival, supported directly by my department as part of the Night-Time Economy initiative. Likewise, IMMA held a successful “Summer Nights” series from May to September as part of this initiative. Both venues showed how they can open up our traditional spaces to new and exciting late night events.
The Night-Time Economy Support Scheme which I opened during the Summer saw over 400 successful applications processed and well in excess of 2,000 events taking place right across the country in all different kinds of venues – night-clubs, late bars, pubs, clubs, cafés, galleries, shops, rehearsal spaces, museums. This shows that there is an appetite to get back out into our cities, towns and villages and enjoy our night-life again.
This is all part of the progress being made as a result of the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and it is timely that I am now in a position to announce the locations of 9 new pilot towns and cities who will take part in the Night-Time Advisor Pilot – these locations are Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford Town.
These new pilot towns and cities will now recruit new Night-Time Economy Advisors who will help drive and support the Night-Time Economy in their specific areas. They will work with businesses, communities, venues, residents and artists to create a more vibrant night-life for all and bring vitality back to our city and town centres in a safe and sustainable way. I would like to thank the CCMA for their role in leading this process and I look forward to getting the Advisors in place and getting started.
I am also committed to working with the sector and other relevant stakeholders to develop a grant process for sound-proofing of suitable venues which will help to support the proposed liberalisation of opening hours for nightclubs and other venues operating in the Night-Time Economy. I secured €2 million as part of Budget 2023 to develop this and my department will be engaging with all relevant stakeholders over the coming weeks to establish the best possible process for this. We want to see an expanded and more diverse Night-Time Economy but we want to do this responsibly and with care towards our communities and I know this is something that venues and businesses support.
As we stand here in this historic space, I think we can truly say that we are at an historic cross-roads for our Night-Time Economy and I think if we work together in partnership, we will make this a success for all.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.