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DATE:
21st May 2003
TOPIC: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill
Mr.
Cuffe:
One thing has changed since the last time we discussed this Bill.
Grumbles of discontent have been heard from the promoters and operators
of events. I sense that this will
continue and intensify. One very salient point has been made. The passing of this Bill may well see a significant increase
in ticket prices for indoor events. I
am concerned that there may be a €10 or €20 increase in ticket prices in
order to comply with the red tape and bureaucracy which this legislation is
foisting on us. Of course there is
a need to provide greater fire safety and protection for citizens but that does
not mean we have to place a restrictive layer of bureaucracy onto existing
legislation. We are much better off
licensing buildings in which events take place than imposing significant
bureaucracy every time an event is held. I
agree with my colleague, Deputy Gilmore, that this could represent an
insurmountable obstacle to holding events, whether by a student body, a
religious body or any body in civil society, which wished to host an event.
Why
is the Minister not coming at this from a buildng point of view rather than from
an event point of view? That is how
things work in other countries and I believe they work better.
That would ensure that we do not have more red tape and an increase in
ticket prices. I ask the Minister
of State to clarify this?
Mr.
Gallagher:
Deputy Cuffe refers to the possibility of prohibitive costs.
So be it. Public
safety comes first. I am not
particularly interested in the additional cost because safety is of paramount
importance.
It
will not be necessary to have an application for each individual event.
There can be a multiple application and there need only be an additional
€500 for a single event. There is
no question of even considering that at this stage or at any stage.
The event will be licensed and not the building.
That is the right way to go.
I
hope promoters will incorporate the additional cost of the licence into their
own profits rather than pass it on. I
hope that will be the situation. Whoever
pays it is a small price to pay for public safety.
Mr.
Cuffe:
With respect, a Chathaorligh, pigs might fly. To envisage a promoter not passing this cost on to the
consumer is expecting too much of a promoter.
Is this best practice abroad? Can
the Minister of State say this is exactly the path that other countries are
going down in ensuring fire safety? I
am not convinced it is, from my limited knowledge of how things operate outside
this country. I may be speaking
with the professional bias of an architect and a town planner but I believe a
building is either safe or it is not.
To
look at every event on a one-off basis will place a stranglehold on every group
in civil society which wishes to hold an event or a concert or have an impromptu
celebration. We are renowned, as a
nation, for being able to host an impromptu event at short notice, whether to
welcome Seán Kelly back to Dublin after winning a sports event or to express
concern at a new imposition at a local level.
We tend to host events on a very quick basis within a matter of days and
that will be prohibited by this legislation.
It is more akin to a piece of public order legislation than of fire or
public safety legislation.
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