Buskers and beggars are causing interference and disruption to the trade in Clareโ€™s county town, it was claimed this week.

Traffic wardens have the authority to deal with buskers that break Council bye-laws which state they cannot use amplification when performing in the streets of Clare. This emerged at the June meeting of the Ennis Municipal District when Cllr Mary Howard queried the matter. โ€œAs per “Clare Co Co Street Performers Bye-Law 2016 (Ennis) County Clare, Section 6 states “A street performer shall not use amplification for speech or music unless authorized in writing”. This is not being adhered to. Also is the only “authorized person” to deal with offenders a member of An Garda Siochana,โ€ she asked.

In response, Administrative Officer Bernadette Haugh detailed that bye-laws came into effect in July 2016 after a consultation period involving An Garda Sรญochรกna, Ennis Chamber and the public. Bye-laws 17-21 โ€œmake specific reference to offences and penalties that can be enforced in relation to an alleged contravention of the Bye-Laws. Enforcement of the Bye-Laws is a matter for a member of An Garda Siochรกna or an Authorised Person acting in the exercise of the functions conferred on an authorised person by the Actโ€, she stated.

Prior to the 2016 and 2017 Fleadh Cheoil na hร‰ireann, the Council authorised a number of its employees to the role of authorised officers. Ms Haugh revealed that only two official complaints have been made since the introduction of the bye-laws and โ€œwere satisfactorily addressedโ€ by the Gardaรญ.

Cllr Howard expressed her worry that Ennis could turn into Shop St in Galway which she called โ€œa din when you go down the streetโ€. โ€œWe do have good buskers coming into town but I donโ€™t want them to play each other out of itโ€, she added. The Ennis councillor stated there โ€œvery loudโ€ musicians that were not approached by working members of the police force or traffic warden at the top of Oโ€™Connell St.

Her Fine Gael colleague, Johnny Flynn added his support to the motion. He said โ€œThere are a number of serial offenders that land in with fairly loud musicโ€. Flynn noted that the requirement in the bye-laws stressed that โ€œamplification was not to be used in the streetsโ€. He is adamant it is interfering with trade and rate payers in the town.

Independent councillor, James Breen expressed his surprise that only two official complaints were made and expressed the view that it was not a serious matter, to which Cllr Howard replied โ€œthe idea of the motion is that we nip it in the bud nowโ€, adding her fear that it would become custom for amplifiers to be used.

A further query from Cllr Howard sought clarification as to the traffic wardensโ€™ power to ask buskers to refrain from using amplification. She was informed by Bernadette Haugh that they do and said the Council can reissue bylaws to the wardens and An Garda Sรญochรกna.

Prompted by the reminder being released to the Gardaรญ, Cllr Flynn asked for street beggars to be dealt with. Flynn commented that they were congregating โ€œat tourist hotspotsโ€ and โ€œorganised at coach collection stopsโ€. It has been numerous times over the past decade according to the Ennis councillor who revealed that he has stopped beggars and told them what theyโ€™re doing is โ€œillegalโ€.

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