Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:330 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to amend the licensing laws to meet current requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18631/99]
Written Answers - Licensing Laws.
Ivan Yates
Ceist:334 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, the Government has made in relation to the extension of the licensed drinking hours; if he will accede to the request from the Vintners Federation in relation to extending the closing hours to 12.30 a.m. with 30 minutes drinking up time; his timetable for dealing with this; the content of his proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18957/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 334 together.
The Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 1999, that is before the House intended to deal with licensed hours on the eve of the millennium. In so far as the proposed Intoxicating Liquor (No. 2) Bill is concerned I refer the attention of the Deputies to the Government's legislation programme as announced by the Chief Whip on 27 September 1999 which indicated that my proposals for that Bill are under review, for submission to Government. The details of the decision made by the Government will, I anticipate, be announced in the near future. However, I can say at this stage, that the measures will be wide-ranging and that hours of trading will form part of the Bill.