Cormac Devlin
Ceist:586. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the status of the proposed arrangements for special exemption orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49559/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 11 October 2022
Ceisteanna (586)
Freagraí scríofa
As part of Budget 2023 I, along with Ministers Donohoe and McGrath, announced a halving of Special Exemption Order court and excise fees. The court fee for each Special Exemption Order is now €150, rather than €300 as was the case previously. Excise duty, payable to the Revenue Commissioners, is now €55 rather than €110 as was the case previously. This means that the cost of a Special Exemption Order comes to a total of €205 instead of €410.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice Plan 2022 commits to publishing and enacting new laws to update and modernise alcohol licensing laws in Ireland. I am delivering on that commitment by preparing Heads of a General Scheme of a Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018, the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and the Public Dance Hall Act 1935, and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century. In addition, codifying alcohol licensing law into a single Act will make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, courts, Gardaí and the public. Special Exemption Orders are being reviewed in the context of the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
Work on the consolidation and reform of the licensing laws and the drafting of the General Scheme is advancing well and it is intended to progress this legislation in the months ahead. Submissions from stakeholders will, of course, be carefully considered in the context of publication of the forthcoming Bill.
Details of the proposed reform will be included in the General Scheme when published.