asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the fact that on the occasion of an important G.A.A. match recently held in Cork, extensions of hours were granted to houses outside the city boundary and not granted to houses within the boundary with resultant confusion and police court prosecutions, he will consider the giving of greater facilities to Cork City licensed premises on such occasions in future, or if he will overhaul the whole Sunday closing provisions which at present are a source of confusion and inconvenience to traders and the public, and substitute for the present provisions, general standard provisions, that will be the same in town and country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Opening of Licensed Premises in Cork.
I am not aware that any confusion has been caused by the provisions of Section 16 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927. Members of the licensed trade are familiar with that section and know that area exemption orders cannot be granted in respect of any part of a county borough. I have no power to grant additional facilities to licensed premises for special occasions and no amendment of the law on the subject is at present in contemplation.