asked the Minister for Justice whether he has received a deputation from licensed traders requesting that he should introduce proposals for a scheme to reduce the number of licensed traders throughout the whole country to a figure that would be reasonable, from the point of view of supplying the needs of the population and at the same time permitting licensed traders to earn a reasonable living from their business; whether he intends to introduce any such proposals; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licensed Traders.
30.
The answer to the first part of the question is "yes."
I propose to consider the matter further but although the licensed business in the country could be carried on in a considerably fewer number of premises provided they were suitably spaced, no scheme that I would consider workable has been devised, by the trade or otherwise, to make the reduction of the number of licensed premises a practical proposition.