Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Sep 2024

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Níl a fhios agam an bhfaca sé an clár "Níl Aon Tinteán" ag TG4 an oíche faoi dheireadh, a tharraing aird ar an drochthionchar atá ag an méadú ar lóistín turasóireachta gearrthéarmach agus leithéid Airbnb ar chúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. N’fheadar ar labhair sé leis an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta maidir leis an gheallúint ar thug seisean go mbeidh na treoirlínte pleanála foilsithe aige gan mhoill. Gealladh an méid sin in 2021. Tá breis ama imithe ó shin agus tá gá le ráiteas maidir leis seo.

Táim an-eolach faoi na dúshláin atá ann do dhaoine áitiúla i gceantair Gaeltachta tithíocht a chur ar fáil agus a fháil ar phraghas réasúnta. Seo dúshlán atá níos leithne ná an Ghaeltacht féin ar ndóigh agus tá an Rialtas seo an-ghníomhach sa réimse seo, mar is léir ó líon na dtithe atá á thógáil anois ar fud na tíre. Tógadh beagnach 33,000 teach in Éirinn anuraidh, an líon is mó le 15 bliana. Cheana féin in 2024, tá tús curtha le beagnach 34,000 teach sa chéad sé mhí den bhliain. Ach go háirithe ó thaobh na Gaeltachta de, tá Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta á leasú os comhair Tithe an Oireachtais. Táim ag súil le céim ón gcoiste go luath agus tabharfaidh sé seo cumhachtaí nua don Údarás talamh a chur ar fáil le haghaidh tithíocht i gceantair Gaeltachta. Ó thaobh lóistín turasóireacht gearrthéarmach de, cuirfidh an Bille um Ligean Gearrthéarmach agus Turasóireacht bonn reachtúil ar chóras nua clárúcháin le haghaidh ligintí gearrthéarmacha in Éirinn. Tá sé i gceist ag an Aire Martin scéim ghinearálta an Bhille seo a chur os comhair an Rialtas go luath. Ní dhéanfaidh an Bille seo aon athrú ar na riachtanais pleanáil atá ann cheana féin le haghaidh ligintí gearrthéarmacha atá ag feidhmiú in Éirinn, ach cabhróidh sé le húdaráis áitiúla na riachtanais phleanála atá ann cheana a chur i bhfeidhm ar bhonn níos éifeachtaí. Cabhróidh an Bille le soiléireacht a thabhairt faoin gcuid is mó de thionscal na turasóireachta agus chun a chinntiú go bhfuil sé ag feidhmiú ar bhonn inbhuanaithe. Creidim go mbeidh sé seo ina chabhair sa Ghaeltacht go fadtéarmach.

Ó thaobh na treoirlínte pleanála don Ghaeltacht de, tá mo Roinn ag obair go dlúth leis an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta agus tá súil agam go gcuirfidh an Roinn sin dréacht treoirlínte ar fáil in am trátha mar chuid den phróiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus fáiltím roimh aon dul chun cinn maidir leis na tithe turasóireachta gearrthéarmacha, Airbnb is a leithéid. Is dea-rud a bheidh ann má tá srianta le bheith curtha orthu le gur féidir le pobal na Gaeltachta teacht ar dídean nó tithe níos buaine ná mar atá acu, má tá siad á lorg. An príomh fáth go bhfuil an cheist seo curtha chuig an Aire ná gur chuireadh an cheist seo go dtí an Aire tithíochta agus dhiúltaigh sé é a fhreagairt. Is eisean an duine a thug an geallúint go mbeidh na treoirlínte foilsithe. Níor tharla sé sin. Cén uair a fhoilseofar iad? Gealladh go mbeadh siad seo foilsithe in 2021 agus féachaimid ar fad an géarchéim atá ann agus ní Airbnbs amháin atá i gceist. Tá cúrsaí pleanála bainteach leis seo. Ní féidir leo siúd a bhfuil suíomh acu tithe a thógáil. Cén uair a bheidh na treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta sin foilsithe?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá neart oibre ar siúl maidir leis na treoirlínte seo agus go deimhin, is an Roinn tithíochta a eiseoidh iad. Tá siad ag obair inár dteannta maidir leo. Tá an cheist seo casta. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil freagra amháin ar an bhfadhb seo; b'fhéidir go bhfuil níos mó ná freagra amháin uirthi. Caithfimid gach rud a dhéanamh a bheadh féaráilte do phobal na Gaeltachta agus do phobal na Gaeilge agus a chuireadh an Ghaeilge chun cinn mar bhunphrionsabal. Tá an obair sin ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Táimse ag súil leis na treoirlínte sin a eisiú, ach ní féidir liom a rá ón uair go ndeachaigh mé isteach sa Roinn go bhfuil sé éasca. Tá neart ceisteanna ag teacht anuas maidir leis seo. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an Roinn tithíochta in ann na treoirlínte seo a chur ar fáil agus go mbeidh níos mó cabhair ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. An rud is tábhachtaí do gach duine sa tír seo, muintir na Gaeltachta san áireamh, ná soláthar i bhfad níos mó tithíochta. Is í sin an fhadhb.

Táimid ar fad den tuairim go bhfuil gá le níos mó tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht agus gur gá dúinn aire a thabhairt nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh an timpeallacht a scriosadh. Is féidir linn an méid seo a dhéanamh. Is é sin an fáth gur gheall an Aire tithíochta go mbeadh na treoirlínte ar fáil. Gach uair a chuirim ceist ar an Aire go príobháideach, go hoscailte san Dáil nó ag an gcoiste, cuireann sé an milleán ar Roinn an Aire Stáit á rá go bhfuil Roinn an Aire Stáit ag moilleadóireacht, go bhfuil seisean críochnaithe leo agus go bhfuil an locht ar an Roinn Gaeltachta nach bhfuileadar foilsithe. Nuair a chuirim ceist ar an Roinn, deireann siad go bhfuil siad ag obair ar aghaidh orthu nó go bhfuileadar leis an Roinn eile. Tá fadhb éigin ann, tá logjam ann agus ní bhaineann sé liomsa nó leis an bpobal, baineann sé leis an dá Roinn. An féidir leis na hAirí atá ag déileáil leo a rá cén uair a bheidh na treoirlínte ar fáil? Mar a dúirt mé, gealladh go mbeadh siad foilsithe i mí na Nollag 2021. Cá bhfuilimid ag anois ach ag druidim le mí na Nollag 2024, trí bliana caite, agus níl siad ar fáil?

Mar a dúirt mé, tá an cheist seo casta agus tá rudaí atá fós le plé maidir leis seo. Eiseofar na treoirlínte seo ón Roinn tithíochta ach gan aon amhras tá baint ag an Roinn s’againne leo agus táimid ag obair go hinmheánach ag plé na ceisteanna seo. Tá teagmháil idir an dá Roinn agus tá an obair seo ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Ba mhaith liomsa go n-eiseofar na treoirlínte seo ach caithfidh mé admháil gur ceist chasta atá ann. B’fhéidir nach bhfuil freagra simplí ar an gceist seo. Tá an obair ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Bhí mé ag plé na gceisteanna seo le mo Roinn agus táimid ag iarraidh go n-oibreoidh sé seo agus nach mbeidh ceisteanna sa todhchaí faoi na treoirlínte a eiseofar. Tá mé ag súil le toradh na hoibre atá á dhéanamh agam le hoifigigh agus táim ag súil leis go mbeidh mé ábalta tuilleadh a rá sa todhchaí beag amach romhainn.

This question relates to the need to recognise comedy, musical theatre, fashion design and storytelling as art forms and to direct the Arts Council to do that so that those who are artists involved in those art forms can apply for and be granted grants and encouragement that they have not got.

I believe this is the Minister's right under section 5(3) of the Arts Act 2003.

Section 2 of the Arts Act 2003 states:

"arts” means any creative or interpretative expression, whether traditional or contemporary, in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes.

This legislative definition indicates a recognition that arts expression is broad and fluid and constantly changing and evolving. Today, artists and arts organisations are increasingly working across and between arts areas. The Arts Council operates under the Arts Act. To reflect and respond to evolving modern arts practitioners, the Arts Council has formed a new multidisciplinary arts team. This team manages grants that are not discipline-specific. Examples of funding include the touring of work scheme and the creative production support scheme. I understand that the Arts Council also has plans to research and develop a multidisciplinary arts policy. Such a policy would set out how the Arts Council supports and enables multidisciplinary practice in the future. The council is currently seeking input by way of comments and suggestions from artists, arts practitioners and arts organisations working in these arts areas.

In recent months, the Arts Council published its new music policy and strategy, as well as an implementation plan which I believe will be launched later this year. Aligned to the development of policies, I understand that the Arts Council will be reviewing its ten-year strategy in preparation for its next strategy from 2026. Much of the structures around the professional non-commercial arts are supported by the Arts Council and local authorities. Annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided to arts centres by local authorities and the Arts Council. Cultural infrastructure owned by local authorities frequently receives capital funding from my Department. Many festivals in receipt of funding from the Arts Council and my Department have programmes that include comedy, spoken word, musical theatre and other multidisciplinary events and artists. Against this background, respect for the arm’s length principle has been a central tenet of my time as Minister. Any proposals of the kind suggested by the Deputy would require careful consideration to take account of the widest range of views to avoid unintended consequences and to ensure that it did not constitute, however unintentionally, an intrusion into an issue more appropriate for the Arts Council to determine.

I respect the arm's length principle but because the art forms I mentioned are not specifically listed, they have been excluded from certain grants and bursaries. That is why those involved in comedy - 1,400 people who signed a petition organised by Ailish McCarthy - are of the view that they need to be specifically mentioned. The same goes for musical theatre, which was a recommendation by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media. Theatre costume designers are recognised but not fashion designers for the people or those involved in fashion design for art. The same goes for storytelling and seanchas. While the Minister has said that, I believe we need to look again at the legislation to specify or be more open so there is no exclusion of art forms from grant aid.

Each of the practices subject to the Deputy's question are important creative activities that play an important part in the cultural life of the nation. For example, Irish comedy, to which the Deputy referred, has been to the fore internationally for decades. Comedians such as Deirdre O'Kane, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran and Dara Ó Briain are household names in Ireland and overseas. As Minister, I was glad to be able to support comedy as part of the wide-ranging response to Covid challenges facing the live entertainment sector. It is also the case that comedy has traditionally been seen as a more commercial creative entertainment activity rather than an art form per se. However, the current process being conducted by the Arts Council on multidisciplinary arts allows for an important conversation on these issues, which I welcome. I am happy to see that these matters are being aired and discussed. My experience as Minister for the arts has been that successful interventions, for example, the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme, are firmly rooted in consultation and engagement with the sector. I know there will be different views on these matters. It is only through consultation and stakeholder engagement, hearing the views of the sector and reflection on them, that we can find a consensus on the way forward.

The Minister mentioned the basic income for artists. Would any of the art forms I mentioned have access if they applied for that, considering they are not in the definition of what art is? I agree with the Minister and welcome the multi-annual team aiming to try to capture and be more flexible. We need to see that work. I wish the Arts Council well in that work. I also take this opportunity to thank all those who turned up at my party's Dáil Ealaíon, which had broad attendance from across the arts, as open and as wide as possible. I welcome that the Minister said there is a need to be fluid in our definition of art but we need to make sure that the supports available are available to all artists to ensure we as a society benefit from their creativity. What are the next steps, from the point of view of the Minister, rather than the Arts Council?

As I mentioned, I have always respected the arm's length principle as Minister. That has been a central tenet for me. The next step is that what has worked for the past four years I have been Minister is engagement and consultation. That is where the Arts Council, development and research and this multidisciplinary arts policy come in. It is currently seeking input by way of comments and suggestions from artists, art practitioners and art organisations. The Deputy can make that known and ensure people contribute to that consultation.

The Deputy asked another question in relation to basic income. On the basic income for the arts research project, eight participants cited comedy as part of the description of their practice. This includes seven in the treatment group and one in the control group. Comedians were eligible to apply for basic income for the arts. The eligibility guidelines, while based on the Arts Act generally, were broader due to the fact that artists and creative art workers were being supported and a more expansive approach was taken in the context of a pilot research programme.

Sorry, I thought it was with one of the later questions.

There is a chronic deficit of pitches and playing facilities across the country. There has been a welcome expansion in participation in sport, particularly in women's sport, but everywhere - certainly in my area - there is a dire deficit of all-weather pitches, pitches generally, decent facilities, facilities with showers and facilities suitable for women. We need to dramatically increase investment in grassroots sports and clubs to provide them with pitches, facilities, clubhouses and resources they need for sport to flourish. Particularly after the success in the Olympics, we want more than politicians jumping in for photographs with successful athletes. We want the investment to be put in at a grassroots level.

I can tell the Deputy that with every athlete I met and spoke to, the issue of investment came up, whether investment in facilities or in themselves and their organisations. I was happy to tell the Government's story on that.

The achievements and performances of Team Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris inspired pride and joy. We want a new generation of participants and high performers and world-class athletes. I agree with the Deputy that investing in grassroots facilities is a critical starting point. The sports capital and equipment programme, which we will rename the community and sports facilities fund, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreational facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.

In May 2024, the Minister, Deputy Martin, and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the community sports facilities fund. The grants have been provisionally allocated to organisations across the country representing more than 50 sports and activities. In particular, we made a special effort with the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to ensure their members and clubs would apply in large numbers.

In May, my colleague the Minister, Deputy Martin, and I confirmed that at least a quarter of a billion euro will be made available for capital projects under this round of the community sports facilities fund. This represents the largest ever investment in grassroots sports facilities nationwide.

This is a record allocation. It is breaking new ground and is on the foot of positive engagement with the Department of public expenditure and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. The funding represents a 50% increase on the funding allocated in 2022 under the previous round and it should mean a positive allocation decisions for every single valid application under the programme. The assessment of the funding applications is now at an advanced stage and I expect, with the Minister, Deputy Martin, to make allocations soon.

We were very proud in our area that Monkstown Boxing Club had one of its boxers, Jack Marley, participate in the heavyweight division of the Olympic Games. The area was very proud and it is a fantastic community club. Does the Minister of State know how long it has been fighting for a permanent facility? It has been for about three decades. It is one of the most inclusive, community-based clubs one could imagine. We finally got it but it was a long fight for Monkstown Boxing Club to get its own permanent facility.

That story is replicated by multiple clubs in our area, such as St. Joseph's AFC, which has been looking for an AstroTurf pitch but there are all sorts of reasons it cannot be given. While Sallynoggin Pearse is looking to primarily finance most of it itself as well as getting some support, it has had obstacles put in its way by the council because it wants a decent facility it will share with another club in the area, namely, Granada Football Club.

Dalkey United is also looking for facilities ,as are many of the GAA clubs. All are lacking in all-weather facilities and pitch space and there does not seem to a proactive approach to going out, saying "Yes" and giving a positive response. Rather, there are always excuses why we cannot do this or do not really need that. In fact, the Government has committed to building a lot more housing - we will see about that - but if the Government is going to build houses, we also need the sports facilities and pitches to go with them. There is not a proactive approach at the moment to the requests and demands of local clubs for pitches, clubhouses and other facilities.

Something must be going right because I agree with almost everything the Deputy said. I met Jack Marley on half a dozen occasions during the Olympic Games. What a great exemplar of a sport he is in not only qualifying for the Olympic Games - he had to be one of the best in the world to do that - and in the manner in which he took his defeat in the Olympic Games. He is such an honourable gentleman and someone for all of our young people to look up to. I really wanted to say that.

I completely agree with the Deputy that we need to fund more sports facilities. I completely agree that when houses are put in we need more sports facilities and that is why the funding for the community sports facilities fund is now at record levels. It is multiples, approximately five times, what was allocated in 2019. What we have done in terms of having a more broad-based national policy to see where the deficits are, there is now a website, getirelandactive.ie, which lists all the sports facilities. It is a great tool for local people to see what is in their area and what is not, if a person looks up the front page. The back end of the website is a tool for local authorities and for Sport Ireland to get a better picture of what is there and what is not there around the country. For future sports funding programmes it will be a really good tool to look at the deficits. That was put together under the Department this year.

In addition, a number of local authorities are now carrying out sports plans. That is at pilot stage and some of them will be enacted this year. I want all local authorities to pass these plans because, as the Deputy hinted at, the local authorities need to take responsibility to make sure they are providing the facilities and looking to the Department for funding, which we certainly want to be able to provide.

I am glad to hear the positive response. The whole borough of Dún Laoghaire, and indeed the whole country, was very proud of Jack Marley but also of many others of our Olympians and Paralympians. We need to really support and resource them. There is not a proactive approach towards this issue in a lot of the local authorities.

I will take Sallynoggin Pearse for example. Again, it is a community-type club. There are different types of clubs. There are people who are going for the elite areas, there are community-types clubs and clubs that combine those things. They all have their different approaches and styles. There is often a sort of second-guessing of what they need rather than listening to the club and proactively trying to support people who overwhelmingly are working on a voluntary basis and want to do good things for their communities, young people and sport. There is a sort of computer says "No" approach when clubs are trying to get things done. Sallynoggin Pearse is a big example in my area. I mentioned St. Joseph's but I could go through a very long list. Granada Football Club is seeking a fantastic expansion, particular of women's soccer. Similarly, there are GAA clubs looking for resources so the Government has to say to local authorities that there must be a proactive and positive response approach coming from the local authorities and assisting people, rather than giving people hoops to jump over or excuses as to why the local authorities cannot do things.

I agree with the Deputy and that is what these sports plans are for. I hope that some of the pilot ones will be passed by local authorities will be passed in the coming weeks. As that is rolled out, it will put sport at the centre of local authority decision-making and it has to be.

The Deputy accused local authorities of having a computer says "No" approach but I can tell him from my Department's point of view, in terms of the community sports facilities fund, it will be a computer says "Yes" approach, because every valid application will receive an allocation. I do not know offhand if any of the clubs mentioned by the Deputy are on the list of who has applied. The list is publicly available and if they have valid applications, they will be successful.

What we have done on this particular round is to try to prioritise the deprivation index so where the need is greatest, applicants from those areas will get the most funding. That has been done on a completely independent and transparent basis in my Department. It is important to ensure the clubs that need it get it. It is about grassroots clubs. One of the reasons the Minister, Deputy Martin, and I have renamed the fund the "community sports facilities fund" was to recognise these are communities coming together, sometimes fundraising significantly themselves, and we are here to help that and add to it and I agree with the Deputy. I will not say "pressure" but we will encourage local authorities more to be in this space, which they need to be.

I have has d a lot of engagements with Dick Shakespeare, the new city manager for Dublin, and will engage with others as well, and of course my own local authorities. I can see a proactive approach being taken there when looking at the applications that have been put in such as for Dalymount Park and other projects, and the attitude Dublin City Council has towards the Dublin City Marathon. We are seeing a changing focus on sport in local authorities and we want to see that around the country.

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for the leverage she has given me this morning. Will the Minister provide an updated report the work of the night-time economy task force that operates from her Department. I would like to understand if, as part of that task force or through any of the Minister's remit, there has been an audit of cultural entities that exist after 10 p.m. Will the Minister consider establishing night-time economy advisers the length and breadth of the country, where they may be needed?

I published the report of the night-time economy task force in September 2021. It contains 36 practical recommendations in the areas of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of night-time activities. The night-time economy unit in my Department continues to work with the implementation group of the task force report, the night-time economy sector, relevant Government colleagues and agencies to progress the 36 actions in this report.

As part of this work, the Arts Council conducted an audit of all arts and cultural facilities in Ireland. A number of key findings were compiled detailing programming and opening hours, facilities, the suitability for night-time economy opportunities, accessibility, climate culture and energy use. This data is being shared with relevant stakeholders and will encourage later programming and new partnerships between late night producers and existing cultural venues.

In addition to this, the Arts Council led the late-night events pilot programme, in partnership with my Department. Funding of €800,000 was allocated to support arts centres and cultural spaces to open later and diversify their offering. Some 14 art centres were selected to take part. The pilot programme aimed to further extend and diversify the offering for later night activity. Each pilot was required to undertake research and evaluation to identify the challenges and opportunities in relation to staying open later. The report on the outcomes of this pilot is currently in development and I look forward to the learnings.

My Department is also funding night-time economy advisors in nine locations across the country on a pilot basis for two years. All night-time economy advisors have been appointed and action plans are being finalised, with many initiatives and pilot projects under way. My Department will work with the local authority sector to review the findings of this pilot and share the learnings with relevant stakeholders. This will help inform any next steps required regarding the further roll-out of this project. The night-time economy remains a dynamic policy area with complex issues to resolve, but also wonderful opportunities to grasp. The collaboration and support of all key stakeholders are vital, and we will continue to add new actions where needed, amend and adapt where appropriate, and build our progress to date.

As the Minister mentioned, the night-time economy and the night-time culture economy present huge opportunities. There has been an effort on her part, certainly in the early years of the Government, to make changes. I believe night-time economy unit has huge potential, and we have seen some examples of that. Yet, I do not believe that there is some degree of collaboration across the Departments that sit around the table. For example, the Department of housing has a huge role to play by looking at vacancies and how we can bring those back into action. I look around Dublin, our capital city, which all but closes down by 9 p.m., with the exception of pubs and nightclubs. It is welcome that the Minister has enhanced the nightclub sector, but it also needs support. The Department of enterprise does not seem to be featured in the unit, despite the fact that there is a huge opportunity here. In the months, or potentially weeks that are remaining, will we see any benefit from this task force? Will the night-time economy be enhanced? Will we see the city not closing down after 10 p.m.? This is why I asked specifically about an audit of facilities that open after 10 p.m.

As I said, the Arts Council conducted an audit of all arts and cultural facilities, not just in Dublin, but across Ireland. My Department has also allocated €11.9 million in current funding to support the work of the night-time economy task force and €2 million in capital funding, and this has supported some key initiatives and pilot projects in the night-time economy policy area. We are not afraid to try new things and work with the sector to put in place supports and initiatives that can create opportunities and new thinking. That includes collaboration with the Department of housing, which the Deputy has mentioned. The Department of Justice is another key Department in this consultation and cross-departmental and cross-government approach.

We also have a Dublin city adviser in place. Dublin City Council and the new adviser, Ray O'Donoghue, are planning to publish their plan shortly. That will be key, and the work is ongoing. A tenet of mine during my time as Minister has been engaging in ongoing consultation with stakeholders, listening to them, seeing what we need to do, seeing how we need to evolve any policies that are under way, and looking at investment.

I reiterate that hugely beneficial work has been undertaken by the task force and, in particular, under the Minister’s leadership, but I would like to see what the outcome of that will be.

I would have liked to ask about the night-time licensing laws, which were promised as part of this reimagining of what our cultural entities could look like in the night time. However, I am not sure if I had to address it to the Minister, who was driving it initially as I was redirected to the Department of Justice. As part of our understanding of the development of the night-time economy and the advancement of culture, is it intended to reform late-night liquor licensing laws during the last weeks and months of the Government, or does the Minister believe that should be pushed on to the next government, whichever of us will be leading it?

I believe it is exciting and the Bill has the power to be transformative. At 2.30 a.m., we continue to see every nightclub in the city opening its doors to send its patrons onto the streets and that does not serve any of us well. I would love to see a continued leadership by the Minister in that field. I hope she might say if we will see that law before her time in government comes to an end.

Yes. As I said, my Department and I are continuing to support the night-time economy through a range of initiatives. The modernisation of licensing is one aspect of this, and an important one, but it is under the remit of the Department of Justice and is being led by it. I have made no secret that I am in support of the reform of our licensing laws, and the Minister for Justice and her officials are continuing to work on reforming this complex legislation. My Department is doing whatever it can to support the Department of Justice on this, where necessary and where appropriate. It is my understanding that it is still the Minister's intention to publish the Bill. The modernisation of these laws will be vital to helping support businesses in the night-time economy, allowing them to innovate, breathe life into our cities and grow in a modern and diverse society.