Vol. 498 No. 4
377 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position on the licensing laws following any reviews of reports published by the committee on licensing laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27434/98]
I have already informed the House, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 9 December 1998, that a review of the licensing laws is currently taking place in my Department following publication of the report on liquor licensing laws by the Sub-Committee on Legislation and Security of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights as well as the interim report of the Competition Authority. The review is taking into account the many submissions which have been received in response to the invitation, by way of advertisements placed by my Department in the national and local press on 4 August 1998, for comments on the Oireachtas report.
My officials are proceeding with examination of the question of legislative proposals. It is my intention to bring forward the heads of a Bill for the Government's consideration in the early part of the new year.
