Performers and business operators offer views on new bye-laws to regulate busking in Dublin city.
In April 2015 Dublin City Council (DCC) introduced bye-lays for busking and street performance within its administrative area. Under the new rules, performers must hold permits.
So far, 160 street performers have paid for the licences required. Time limits have been placed on individual performances. The sound produced in the immediate vicinity of a street performer during a performance must not exceed 80 decibels or 75 decibels in Temple Bar.
DCC has employed inspectors to check sound levels on the streets. DCC Administrative Officer Oliver Hickey explains the aim is to maintain good communication channels with buskers,
There are measures in the bye-laws for fines and court appearances but that's the last thing we want to do with anybody.
Keywest's frontman Andrew Kavanagh realises businesses on Grafton Street need to be respected, but he does not think they should be powerful enough to dampen the Dublin busking scene.
While tourists love the street performers, businesses on Grafton Street are less enamoured. Kieran Byrne of Des Byrne Tailoring takes issue with the relentless noise,
Five, six days a week, non-stop.
While the rules for volume levels are contentious among buskers, Lode Vermeulen accepts the time limit ruling,
You can’t live with it if the person is there for two hours.
John Murray of Dublin Street Performers (DSP) thinks having a licence makes it fair for local buskers as,
People can't just come in from anywhere and busk.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 May 2015. The reporter is John Kilraine.
