The tourism industry yesterday called for the lifting of the ban on children in bars after 9 p.m., describing the law as anti-family.
Tourism leaders said the ban on the under 18s, introduced by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, as part of the campaign to combat underage drinking, targeted an area where there was no evidence of abuse.
Mr Brendan Leahy, chief executive of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, said the ban would affect the tourism business and family holidays.
"We would regard the ban as poor legislation. It is certainly anti-family in the sense of families going to a resort hotel," he said.
Families should not be part of the arguments about binge drinking as it was not the same issue, he said.
Entertainment was part of the evening for families, particularly in resort hotels, he added.
The chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), Mr John Power, said when the legislation was first mooted last year, members were strongly opposed to it and their concerns had been borne out,
"It's bad legislation. The aim was to reduce the abuse of alcohol by underage drinkers but this ban is not doing that. The Minister is targeting an area where there is no evidence of abuse. It is interfering with family enjoyment and holidays," Mr Power said. The families were well behaved and wanted to be in a country hotel and listen to music.
"Customers say that it is anti-family and that is the feedback our members are getting."
Obviously, there should be safeguards if children were badly behaved, he added. And the IHF had suggested a certificate from the local gardaí to certify that a premises was suitable for children.
"The Minister is correct in wanting to target abuse of alcohol in underage drinkers and we fully support that, but this is not the way," Mr Power said.