I move amendment 1:
Section 1. To delete in line 21 the words and figures "and Sunday, the 21st."
On the Second Reading of this Bill last night, in a small House, I indicated my objection to the inclusion of Sunday, 21st, in this Bill. I had better perhaps repeat, more or less, what I said on that occasion. The Act which this Bill is intended to amend was the result of fairly prolonged discussion in both Houses. The sections dealing with the closing and opening of publichouses on Sundays in the four boroughs and in the other parts of the country were the subject of a good deal of discussion. The late Minister for Justice, who was in charge of the Bill, succeeded in persuading both Houses against accepting the proposition that the provision dealing with opening on Sundays, where crowds gathered, should apply to the four county boroughs. As we all know, a Bill was passed by the Oireachtas a few weeks ago. That Bill was applicable to the one day on which the Catholic Emancipation Centenary celebrations were being held. It was pointed out that many thousands of people were expected to gather in Dublin on that day, and it was thought necessary to make provision for the publichouses in the city to open at different hours to those provided in the Act. That Bill was for one occasion only, so that food could be provided and so that even publichouses might be utilised for the provision of food and refreshments for the thousands expected to come to the city. Similarly, on Sunday, 14th, celebrations of a similar religious character are to take place in Cork. Many thousands of people are expected to be in Cork on that day from fairly early in the morning until late in the evening. Consequently, it was thought important that the same provision regarding the relaxation of hours in the Act should apply to Cork as applied to Dublin. I suppose there is no real objection to that, because of the special circumstances which will probably not happen more than once in a generation or once in a hundred years.
But the proposal in this Bill is to include Sunday, the 21st, and to have a similar relaxation for that day because of the fact that there is a football match in connection with which many thousands of people are expected to visit Cork. There will be numerous football matches, no doubt, in the four county boroughs during the summer. It seems to me that the proposal to include Sunday, the 21st, in this Bill is very unwise. If there is going to be provision for such occasions the case ought to be argued and the views of the Department of Justice should be properly understood. The inquiry which has been promised into the working of the 1927 Act should be pursued before we make the exceptions that are now asked for. I am opposing the inclusion of Sunday, the 21st, and I ask the House to delete the words in the amendment. I have the authority of the chief promoter of the Bill in the Dáil, to say that rather than face any opposition or any long controversy on this, he is prepared to accept that view, namely, the deletion of Sunday, the 21st, the hope being that the Bill can, and probably will, be accepted by the Dáil so as to become law and be effective for Sunday next.
