Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-25
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I thank the Senators for their proposed amendment. The amendment concerns Part 14 of the Bill which relates to outdoor seating areas for licensed premises. Colleagues will be aware that since 2020, Ministers for justice have come to the Houses of the Oireachtas every six months, looking for the extension of these measures that were introduced during Covid-19. It is sensible that we keep them on a permanent basis as it does improve the quality of life and enjoyment that people can have to be able to sit outside on the infrequent days that we get good weather. It should be permanently on the Statute Book. If it is enacted, it will mean that we will not have those resolutions coming back to be voted on in the Seanad and the Dáil every six months.
The amendments put forward by Senators Higgins, Ruane and Stephenson are unnecessary when we look at the current legislative framework. A street furniture licence is issued at the discretion of the local authority under section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. It will be issued under the Planning and Development Act 2024 when the relevant provisions of that Act are commenced. Under section 46 of this Bill, a street furniture licence is defined as "a licence granted to a licensee of a licensed premises under section 254 of the Act of 2000 or section 13 of the Act of 2024 in respect of tables and chairs, prescribed under section 254(1)(g) of the Act of 2000 or section 13(2)(h) of the Act of 2024, situated outside the premises".
Licensees who are granted a street furniture licence under the provisions of this Bill are bound by the provisions of section 254 of the 2000 Act. Compliance with the terms and conditions of a street furniture licence, including those in respect of advertising, is mandatory. A breach of those conditions can result in the revocation of the street furniture licence which could have serious repercussions for a licensee. Non-compliance with a street furniture licence can ground an objection to an application for a renewal of that licensee's intoxicating liquor licence. Accordingly, the amendment is not necessary as we already deal with that in our legislation.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-25