asked the Minister for Justice why a publican may not remain open until 11.30 p.m. during the winter months when summer time, renamed standard time, now applies all the year round; and if he will make a general statement on this matter, with particular reference to Section 1 (1) (2) of the Standard Time Act, 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Opening Hours of Licensed Premises.
23.
The statement that summer time, renamed standard time, now applies all the year round, while it is a convenient and useful way of describing the change, is not accurate as a statement of the law. Legally, the position under the Standard Time Act, 1968, is that summer time has been abolished, not extended and renamed.
Under section 2 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1962, the closing hour of 11 p.m. is applicable to any period that is not a period of summer time. As there is now no summer time, as such, that provision, taken by itself, would have required public houses to close at 11 p.m. all the year round. This is the reason why section 1 (2) was included in the Standard Time Act—its object was to ensure that the right to remain open up to 11.30 p.m. during the summer months is preserved, notwithstanding the abolition of summer time. Section 1 (2) has no application to the winter months which, therefore, are governed by the 11 p.m. closing provision.