Fianna Fail plans to regulate street performances in Cork City have been criticised by Fine Gael Cllr Joe O'Callaghan, who claims that the proposed bylaws would detract from the "life and spontaneity" of the city - according to reports on IrishExaminer.com.

Among FF Cllr Kenneth O'Flynn proposed regulations are restrictions on the time during which buskers would be permitted to perform, a song repertoire policy and various others.

These include:

A busking time limit of between 11am and 11pm, though silent acts (human statues, pavement artists etc) are exempt from this. 

Each busker must have a minimum repertoire of 20 songs. 

Amp must not exceed 15 watts, though there will be several amp-free zones designated by the city council. 

Drums kits are not allowed and must be replaced with un-amplified percussion instruments. 

Street performers must stay more than 50 metres away from each other. 

No performer shall say, do, or demonstrate ANYTHING this will cause concern to the local businesses, police, or pedestrians. 

Performance spaces must be shared, no one performer will be allowed "own" a section of the street. 

Performers who break these rules will be subject to legal proceedings from Cork City Council. 

Oh, there'll also be a dress code.

Cllr. O'Flynn states the proposed bylaws were drawn up after concerns from local businesses suggested that noise pollution was harming sales. Mr O'Flynn has also railed against local rickshaw operators in the city and has attempted to draw up legislation for this too, but has been warned by the city's law agent that the national legislation already in place sufficiently governs the practice

Richy Sheehy, a busker interview with the Irish Examiner, stated that the proposals could lead to "turf wars" between buskers. "They are trying to fix something that isn't broken", he warned. "They will probably make things worse."

For what it's worth - and to editorialise here for a moment - we think that this would be a terrible idea and would severely detract from the atmosphere and liveliness of the city, not to mention harming a perfectly acceptable revenue source for struggling artists and musicians.

We hand it over to you, Punk Rock Johnny Cash...