On-trade

DublinTown welcomes former Minister’s comments

DublinTown has welcomed the recent comments from former Minister Josepha Madigan on the plans announced as part of the Programme for Government to support and develop the Evening & Night Time Economy.
DublinTown has long called for greater support and consideration for the Evening & Night Time Economy and the broader hospitality and cultural sectors. 

DublinTown has long called for greater support and consideration for the Evening & Night Time Economy and the broader hospitality and cultural sectors.

Among the steps to be taken will be the establishment of a Night-time Economy Taskforce and a full review of the regulations and policy framework governing night-time culture at national and local level including the staggering of trading hours for pubs, late bars, clubs and restaurants.

In addition, it is intended that the government will modernise the licensing laws and applications process.

It will also support the establishment of the Night-time Culture Mayors proposed for Dublin and Cork and examine the establishment of local committees to advance and improve the night-time entertainment and creative offerings in other urban areas.

“These commitments of support are needed now more than ever as hospitality businesses began the difficult process of re-opening as part of phase 3 and will be needed to support the growth of the industry as life begins to return to normal,” stated DublinTown, the collective voice of businesses in Dublin city centre, “DublinTown has had a long and productive involvement in the development of the Evening & Night Time Economy (ENTE).  In 2013 Dublin along with Ennis were the first Irish towns to receive the coveted Purple Flag award for excellence in the management of the ENTE in Ireland. “

DublinTown has long called for greater support and consideration for the Evening & Night Time Economy and the broader hospitality and cultural sectors.

“This has led us to advocate for greater night-time management, increased public transport provision as well as measures to increase safety in the alternative 9-5 economy,” it continued, “The manner in which people use cities is changing across the world. As retail retreats there has been a growth in the evening & night-time economy. This importance is set to grow further as the 21st Century progresses.  It’s essential that we develop viable, vibrant and safe city destinations. International experience shows that this can only be done where there’s a genuine partnership between both public and private sectors and where there are integrated plans that consider all of a city’s often-competing needs and demands. DublinTown will continue to advocate and lobby on behalf of our members and the wider evening and night-time economy.”

DublinTown Chief Executive Richard Guiney commented, “There are five BIDs and 23 Purple Flag towns in Ireland. These towns are connected to best international practice through the Association of Town and City Management and the International Downtown Association.  Each town has considered access and egress together with safe pedestrian movement. Through formal structures comprising Local Authorities, Gardai and local businesses they have prepared town plans which in many cases have been modified to account for Covid-19 requirements. This expertise and experience can be utilised in the wider planning processes and learnings shared with other towns through a network of Irish centres. We believe that such a network could prove invaluable in delivering upon the aims set out in the Programme for Government.”

In 2017 the San Francisco-based Responsible Hospitality Institute invited Dublin Town to be one of three international destinations in its Global Cities Programme.  This programme sought to understand emerging trends after dark and to consider what these will mean for towns and cities in the 21st Century.

 

 

 


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