asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that several important fairs are held in Saorstát Eireann on St. Patrick's Day, particularly in the towns of Ballyhaunis and Castlebar, in South Mayo; that the closing of licensed premises on a fair day causes great inconvenience to the public attending such fairs, and if he will take steps to permit licensed traders in the towns where fairs are held to open their licensed premises on that day.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ST. PATRICK'S DAY CLOSING OF LICENSED PREMISES.
Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927, contains the law regarding the granting of general exemption orders on occasions such as fairs or markets. Sub-section (7) of that section provides that no general exemption order shall be granted for any time on any Sunday or Saint Patrick's Day, Christmas Day or Good Friday. In these circumstances Justices of the District Court have no power to grant general exemption orders on St. Patrick's Day. There does not seem to be any action open to me in the matter.