Call for later club opening hours amid closure concerns

Campaigners have called for nightclubs to be allowed to stay open later amid concerns that large numbers of nightclubs are in danger of closing.

The Give Us The Night group made the request at a meeting with TDs and senators in Leinster House.

Speaking at the meeting, which was attended by a number of politicians from across the political spectrum, Give Us The Night spokesperson and musician Sunil Sharpe said the Government should introduce updated licensing laws for nightclub and night-time venue opening hours.

He said this should include the “modernisation” of opening times, recognising nightclubs as a specific section of licensing laws and the repeal of the 1935 Public Dance Halls Act.

Mr Sharpe said while night-time economy members were told the modernisation of licensing laws would take place as part of the Programme for Government four years ago, in his view this has not happened.

He accepted that a public consultation on the issue took place in 2022.

However, he said that a related draft Sale of Alcohol Bill was published in October 2022, and the Intoxicating Liquor Bill earlier this year, the legislation for this matter has not been enacted.

Mr Sharpe said nightclubs should be allowed to open later and that staggered closing times should be introduced, as in his view “many nightclubs are teetering on the edge of closure”.

He said his campaign group wants the Government to enact the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024, a waiving of special exemption order costs for late-night venues, an increase in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s yearly Night-Time Economy Budget to €10 million.

The group also called for the Government to establish a Nightlife Action Plan which would include a taskforce to examine initial resources for policing, public transport and emergency services, if needed.

Give Us The Night also called for a reduction of the 23% VAT rate on tickets and door admission to 0% for dance events for a three-year nightclub industry regeneration period, which could later return to 9% in line with other cultural venues.