Vol. 495 No. 4
71 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the reform of the licensing laws; the meetings, if any, he has held with interested parties in relation to reform of the licensing laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20260/98]
The Deputy may be aware that, following publication of the report of 18 June 1998 on liquor licensing laws by the subcommittee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, my Department invited by way of advertisements placed in the national and local press on 4 August 1998 comments on the report. The closing date for such contributions was 30 September 1998. In excess of 60 submissions have been received and these are in the course of being examined as part of the consultative process in which I engaged with a view to a careful and in-depth examination of the question of amending legislation.
I confirm that I have had meetings with various groups as part of the consultative process in this area.
