Sharon Keogan urges permanent law after outdoor dining extension
Sharon Keogan spoke in the house in support of a six-month extension for outdoor dining while insisting the temporary arrangement should be made permanent. She argued the rolling extensions create uncertainty for small businesses and called on the Minister to bring forward permanent legislation without further delay.
Support for temporary measures
Keogan acknowledged that the Act introduced during the pandemic provided legal clarity for outdoor seating and was a lifeline for hospitality businesses. She said it brought life to towns and villages, supported jobs and gave people a safe space to gather.
Criticism of repeated short-term extensions
She criticised the continued use of six-month renewals four years on, calling it unsustainable and saying it leaves small business owners unable to plan or to justify investments in outdoor infrastructure. Keogan described the approach as kicking the can down the road and said it was lazy, short-sighted and damaging.
Call for permanent legislation and reference to stalled bill
Keogan noted that the general scheme of the sale of alcohol bill was published in 2022 but has not been enacted, asking why the delay and whether it is due to bureaucracy. She argued that making the law permanent would send a clear message that local businesses are valued and that public outdoor spaces are supported.
Practical issues raised and described as resolvable
She acknowledged practical concerns raised in debate, including accessibility on public roads and pathways noted by Senator Boyan, toilet facilities for businesses with no indoor seating and loss of public parking space. Keogan said these issues are resolvable and that permanency would encourage businesses to take responsibility for long-term maintenance.
Demand to the Minister and closing remark
Keogan said she would support the current extension but insisted it must be the last, urging the Minister to stop dithering and to introduce permanent legislation. She concluded that communities, businesses and the house deserve better.
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Minister, thank you for coming in today and I rise today to support the motion to extend outdoor dining yet again. But let me be clear, this is not how we should be doing and legislating in a modern state. This Act introduced during the pandemic gave legal clarity to something that was already happening, people enjoying a pint or a glass of wine in an outdoor seating area. It was a lifeline for small businesses, particularly in hospitality, who were trying to survive under impossible conditions and it worked. It brought life to our towns and villages, supported jobs and gave people a safe social space to gather. But here we are, four years later, still kicking the can down the road with a six-month extension. This is not sustainable. It creates uncertainty for small business owners who are trying to plan ahead, who are investing in outdoor infrastructure, hiring staff and many treading water as it is. These are the very people we claim to support, yet we leave them in limbo every few months. The government has had ample time to make this law permanent. In fact, the general scheme of the sale of alcohol bill was published back in 2022 and yet it still hasn't made it to the statute books. Why? What's the delay? Is it bureaucracy? In any case, it's not good enough. We cannot keep governing by temporary measures. It's lazy, it's short-sighted and it's damaging. Small businesses need certainty. They need to know what the rules, the rules won't change every six months. They need to know that their investment they make today will still be valid tomorrow. Making the law permanent would send a clear message that we value our local businesses, that we support vibrant public spaces and that we trust people to enjoy a drink outdoors without the sky falling in. Now, of course, there are many issues to be asked around making this law permanent. They are questions of how they impact accessibility on public roads and pathways, especially for those with mobility issues, highlighted by Senator Boyan. There is a question of whether small businesses with no indoor seating will have adequate toilet facilities for their customers. We need to ask whether this will take away too much from public parking space. However, ultimately, all these questions and issues are resolvable. What's more is that we are creating a permanent law that will give businesses a sense of responsibility for these spaces, giving them reason to invest in their long-term viability and maintenance. So, yes, I would be supporting the extension, but let this be the last one. I call on the Minister to stop dithering and bring forward permanent legislation without further delay. Our communities deserve better, our businesses deserve better, and frankly, this house deserves better. Thank you.
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