Vol. 500 No. 3
102 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the intoxicating liquor Bill will be brought before Dáil Éireann in 1999; if this Bill will deal with issues such as extending a six day licence to seven days, a more liberal view of the issuing of licences, extension of the hours of trade and the laws currently governing the operation of clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3888/99]
I have already informed the House, on a number of occasions, that a review of the licensing laws is currently taking place in my Department and that it is my intention to bring forward the heads of a Bill for the Government's consideration at the earliest possible opportunity this year. The details of the legislative proposals will be announced in the usual way following their consideration by the Government.
The review has taken account of the report on liquor licensing laws by the Sub-committee on Legislation and Security of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, the interim report of the Competition Authority, and the many submissions which have been received in response to the invitation, by way of advertisements placed by my Department in the national and local press in the week of 4 August 1998, for comments on our licensing laws.
