Gary Gannon
Question:1577. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if there are any plans to publish and enact the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024. [32702/24]
View answerTuesday, 23 July 2024
Questions (1577)
Written answers
The Government and I are committed to modernising the alcohol licensing laws and to support the night-time economy and the many industries and businesses that operate within this economy to the greatest extent possible.
The Sale of Alcohol Bill intends to modernise our existing licensing laws in line with the expectations and needs of today’s society and to encourage the development of a modern and diverse night-time economy.
The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while providing support to those involved in our night time economy.
Given the social and health effects associated with misuse of alcohol, Ireland has, for many decades, operated a restrictive regime for licensing.
The General Scheme of the bill retains that approach and will ensure that the sale of alcohol remains closely regulated.
The extensive public and stakeholder consultation process carried out by my Department - with representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies and advocacy groups, consumers and communities in relation to the proposed legislation - demonstrates strong demand for reform and modernisation of the law in this area.
It is my intention to separate the Sale of Alcohol Bill into two Bills.
Firstly, I intend to introduce the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024. This is a shorter Bill to introduce a number of key reforms contained in the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 to modernise our licensing system. These include:
• The standardisation of opening hours for pubs and off-licences.
• The introduction of an annual late bar permit and an annual nightclub permit.
• The inclusion of new grounds of objection in line with the Zero Tolerance Third National Strategy to Tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
• Strengthening of the powers of An Garda Síochána to ensure that public safety and order are maintained.
• To provide that licensing applications, which are currently heard in the Circuit Court, will move to the District Court.
• The inclusion of the provision for outdoor seating.
My Department is currently finalising the terms of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024 and it is my intention to bring the Bill to the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming months.
Thereafter, work will continue to progress on the other provisions in the General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 to modernise our liquor licensing laws.