asked the Minister for Justice whether the proposed consolidated liquor Bill has been occasioned by representations made to him by individuals or organisations connected with the trade; and, if so, whether he proposes to meet requests for alterations in the existing law by means of this Bill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consolidated Liquor Bill.
22.
The Bill now being drafted was envisaged in the White Paper on Law Reform which was published by my Department in 1962. It will provide for the re-enactment in a single Act of the substance of the seventy or so Acts comprised in the licensing code. It will follow the usual course of consolidating measures and is not intended to provide for any amendments of the law. It is a formidable task and I do not expect to be in a position to introduce it until about this time next year.
It may be that it will be necessary to promote an amending Bill immediately prior to the consolidating measure in order to get rid of dead wood and make some changes, mainly of a technical character.
When the Minister speaks of an amending Bill——
A criticism of his neighbour.
——and suggests there may be changes in the existing law, is there any foundation for press reports that it is proposed to extend the opening hours until 2.30 a.m.?
As far as I am concerned, I have no proposals for an extension of licensing hours. My main concern is to consolidate the existing enactments concerned with the licensing code. I hope to have this purely consolidation measure before the House but there will be no amendments, outside that, to extend the licensing hours.
The Minister mentioned that it might be necessary to bring in an amending Bill before the consolidation measure with a view to getting rid of existing dead wood as he described it. Can he enlighten us as to whether we are entitled to draw the conclusion that this might mean an alteration in the existing opening and closing hours?
Would it be merely a Statute Law Revision Bill as was introduced before the fisheries consolidation?
Precisely.
(Cavan): May we take it that the Minister does not contemplate now or in the foreseeable future any alteration in the licensing hours?
No.
Is the Minister keeping in mind the possibility of bringing our opening hours into line with those of European countries which we appear to be anxious to join?
I keep all things in mind. At this point of time, I have no proposal in mind to extend the licensing hours but we watch developments.
If the Minister waits until we go into EEC, we have no need to worry for the next 100 years.
Deputy Tully has not, anyhow.