This amendment relates to the time of the midday break which under the Bill will apply only to Dublin and Cork. I am suggesting that instead of the present hour's break from half-past two until half-past three there should be a break from 3 o'clock until 4 o'clock. This amendment is not being moved in any controversial way. It is put down because we believe it is a matter which should be discussed and considered by the House, having regard to the fact that the Minister's withdrawal of Section 15 of the Bill was done in an atmosphere of threatening the publicans that unless they got into the catering business in a big way within the next year or two something similar to his proposals under Section 15 of the Bill would be reintroduced.
The case has been made to us, and this is what we should like the House to consider, that those publicans who are making a serious effort to cater for meals find themselves in a difficult position because of the timing of the midday break. The person who goes in for a meal from a quarter-to-two onwards would find it very difficult to have an adequate meal or to be adequately served by the publicans before half-past two. At half-past two he would have to leave because the public house must close. Consideration should be given to that problem which exists at the moment and which will become even more widespread if the publicans have serious regard to the Minister's words in relation to going into the catering business. If the hour were changed to operate between three o'clock and four o'clock the same interruption would not apply to those who wish to have their meal in public houses. If it is thought desirable not to make any change in the timing of the hour at the moment it is certainly a matter which should come up for review again if there is any widespread increase in the number of public houses that go in for the catering business.
I am perfectly conscious of the fact that there are arguments against making a change at the present time. I know that, apart from one-man concerns, the publicans who employ staff in the cities of Dublin and Cork have become accustomed to the present pattern of things. They have their staff rota arranged so as to allow meals to be taken by the staff or time off for the staff during this closing hour and an alteration would create some problems for them. Not that I think the half-hour alteration would create any insuperable problems for the publicans but this is a matter which must be considered seriously and we should like to ascertain the views of the House on it.