Vol. 549 No. 2
38 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to bring forward legislation to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Liquor Licensing relating to off-licences; the progress which has been made by the high-level, interdepartmental working group examining recommendations of the Commission not relating to off-licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6081/02]
The preparatory work on new legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission on Liquor Licensing in relation to off-licences is under way in my Department at present. At this stage I am unable to say exactly when the proposals for legislation will be ready for publication, but I expect that they will be published later this year.
As regards the Commission's recommendations not relating to access to off-licences – the majority of which fall within the areas of responsibility of other Departments and agencies – the Government agreed that a co-ordinated response be developed by a high-level, interdepartmental working group of the Departments and agencies concerned. Reports presented by this working group in June 2001 and January 2002 confirmed that the Departments and agencies concerned have responded in a broadly positive and constructive way to the Commission's recommendations, and that they have already taken action, or intend doing so, in response to the recommendations falling within their respective areas of responsibility.
