IRELAND will soon be Europe's only country without street markets unless there is immediate Government action to regulate and organise them, according to a Dutch expert on street trading.
Mr Andre Esselink, general secretary of the European Union for Market Traders (UECA), said while there were problems with markets and street traders in Britain, Denmark and Ireland, the Irish situation was the worst.
"I've been on Moore Street and Henry Street and I've seen the police chasing street traders with their prams. It is like something from the Middle Ages," he said. "It's unbelievable that in these modern times street traders are looked on as criminals.
"There is a problem but that is no way to solve the problem. I know they don't pay taxes. But make them legal, then they have obligations and they have rights. But in this country I think it is a political problem too."
Mr Esselink was speaking at a one day conference in Dublin on the future for market and street trading in Ireland. The event was arranged by the Irish Organisation for Market and Street Traders (IOMST), the first of its kind in Ireland. Some local authorities were represented.
According to Mr Dave Reddin, of IOMST, the conference is a step on the road to "regulating and professionalising market and street trading in Ireland and raising standards to the same level as the rest of Europe".
Markets have become completely marginalised, he said, and a lot of local authorities have got rid of them. "But they are already regretting that decision. In Cavan town they got rid of the market because the shopkeepers thought - it was damaging their business. Now that it's gone, shopkeepers have found that their own trade has dropped. The same thing happened in Gorey, Co Wexford. They didn't realise that the markets bring people and tourists into town and that's good for everybody's business."
Mr Esselink said market and street trading in the Netherlands had a turnover of £2.3 billion. It was very strictly regulated and operated for the 67,000 people in the business. "In some of the towns the big shops co operate with the street markets and they advertise together."
He said markets were huge tourist attractions, describing the market situation in Ireland as like the Dutch situation 25 years ago. He warned that "Ireland will be the first country in Europe with out markets if it carries on the way it is now".
Mr Jim O'Donovan, of Cork Corporation, told delegates that open air markets in Ireland were as much a part of the Irish social, economic and cultural tradition as set dancing, hurling or traditional butter making".
He charted the history of the Coal Quay market in Cork which operates at weekends and was a seven day a week market during the run up to Christmas. The area, a traditional market location which had gone downhill, was redeveloped by Cork Corporation with EU assistance. Despite "ups and downs", it had become quite a successful market.
"I doubt if it will ever become a seven day market as it was in the past. However, a vibrant Friday and Saturday market would be a valuable asset in the city."
