DATE: 21^st 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.