Vol. 536 No. 6
89 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress to date of the commission on the liquor licensing laws; when the commission is likely to produce a final report; if he has received an interim report dealing with off-licences; if he intends to publish the interim report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15050/01]
As Deputies are aware, in November 2000, I established the Commission on Liquor Licensing under the chairmanship of Mr. Gordon Holmes, with the approval of the Government. The terms of reference of the Commission are as follows: to review the liquor licensing system in the light of all relevant factors, including systems for the licensing of alcohol in other countries, and to make recommendations for a liquor licensing system geared to meeting the needs of consumers, in a competitive market environment, while taking due account of the social, health and economic interests of a modern society; to review, in particular, the scope for a system of additional licences; to examine demand in areas that are under-pubbed, new areas of increasing population and tourist areas; to examine other aspects of the licensing system, such as licences for theatres and places of public entertainment, the licensing of residential accommodation which does not come under the definition of an hotel, interpretative centres and other places where the sale of alcohol is ancillary to the main business carried out; to examine the nature of the off-licence and particularly the method of access to the off-licensed trade in the interests of promoting better competition; to inquire into other aspects of the licensing code, as may be appropriate; to make recommendations for any necessary legislative changes to give effect to the recommendations put forward; to submit a report within three months of the first meeting on paragraph 3 of its terms of reference and a final report within two years of the first meeting on all other matters.
In line with the terms of reference, the commission has submitted its interim report on off-licensing and I expect that it will be published shortly. Its final report is due by the end of 2002.
