asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that the Gardaí in the town of Youghal have closed small shops at 10 p.m., thereby depriving the owners, who, with their families, work such shops without paid help, from earning their living and thus causing unnecessary hardship, and if he will instruct the Gardaí not to interfere with the businesses of selling refreshments, newspapers, periodicals, books, magazines, tobacco and smokers' requisites which are exempted from the provisions of the Shops (Hours of Trading) Act, 1938.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youghal Shop Hours of Trading.
The Gardaí are responsible for the enforcement of the Shops (Hours of Trading) Act, 1938, and of the Orders made thereunder by the Minister for Industry and Commerce. They had occasion recently to draw the attention of shopkeepers in Youghal to the fact that the shops must be closed at a certain hour.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to Questions Nos. 13, 14 and 15, in which he indicated his intention of extending the hours in which shops in certain areas may remain open during the remainder of the summer season.