Seventeen people have been excluded from specific premises or locations under the new Public Order Act, and four closures have been ordered, The Irish Times has learned.
The Public Order Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Act were introduced last year.
Fine Gael spokesman on justice, Mr John Deasy, was ordered from the Chamber of the Dáil last week when he persisted in asking for specific figures for orders under these Acts. Questions were being taken at the time by Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Willie O'Dea, who said he would answer the question when he was given proper notice. The Ceann Comhairle disallowed the questions.
The Public Order Act provides for the closure, for specific periods of time, of premises which sell liquor to people already intoxicated. It also provides for people to be banned from certain locations if their presence gives rise to public order problems.
The Public Order Act and the Intoxicating Liquor Act came into force in August and September last year, and before the end of the year there were four orders under Section 5, allowing for the closures, and 17 under Section 3, providing for banning individuals.