Vol. 514 No. 1
211 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will include a single national trading time for night club exemptions of two hours plus 30 minutes drinking up time instead of leaving the matter to the discretion of a District Court judge in the context of legislative proposals on the sale of intoxicating liquor (details supplied). [3665/00]
As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, which is in the course of being drafted for publication in this session, takes into account the report of the Oireachtas Committee on Liquor Licensing, the report of the Competition Authority and submissions received from the public and interest groups, including the night club sector.
The provisions in the Bill on the extension of licensing hours and a range of other matters, including the removal of the restriction on the granting of a special exemption for any time on a Sunday and the obligation to provide a meal as part of the condition for the grant of a special exemption, will have implications for the night club sector. A standard late closing time for night clubs without the need for special exemptions is not among the matters which have been in contemplation for inclusion in the Bill. However, the details of some issues continue to be considered and developed in the context of further drafting of the Bill. The full details, subject to Government approval, will be announced by way of publication of the Bill.
