Vol. 503 No. 1
121 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is examining the licensing laws in relation to discotheques; the existing rules and regulations in relation to night club discotheques and their hours of opening and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/99]
I have already indicated to the House on a number of occasions, by way of reply to questions, that my Department has been developing heads of proposals for reform of the licensing laws. The proposals take account of the June 1998 report on liquor licensing laws by the subcommittee on justice, equality and women's rights and the September 1998 interim report of the Competition Authority. They are also a response to the many submissions on our licensing laws which have been received by my Department from groups and individuals. As part of the exercise I have engaged in extensive consultations and meetings with representative groups.
I can confirm that the views of the discotheque and nightclub sector have been taken into account as part of the overall examination in my Department of the licensing code.
The heads of the Bill which I am now proposing have reached the stage where a decision of the Government on the details can be expected in the near future.
