The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has published the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, which proposes a major tightening up of licensing laws to deal with the problem of drink-related anti-social behaviour. Paul Cullen reports.
The Bill provides for stronger penalties for drink-related offences, wider use of closure orders against pubs that breach the licensing laws and earlier closing time on Thursday nights.
It also proposes a ban on dancing or music during the 30 minutes of drinking-up time, restrictions on access to pubs by young people and a ban on promotional practices designed to encourage excessive alcohol consumption.
Although the Minister told the Dáil last night that he had taken into account the concerns expressed by the Opposition, the Bill fails to address many criticisms raised by politicians and industry groups.
For example, Mr McDowell is pressing ahead with plans to transfer jurisdiction for discrimination cases involving pubs from the Equality Tribunal to the District Court, in spite of criticism from Labour and groups representing Travellers.
He is also proposing a ban on people under 18 from licensed premises after 8 p.m. Some TDs had complained this would affect families dining in licensed restaurants or on summer holidays in rural areas.
Before 8 p.m., pub owners will have a new discretion to exclude under-18s. Pub owners may also exclude children under 15 for health and safety reasons.
The Bill provides for fines of €1,500 for a first offence in a wide variety of areas, such as supplying alcohol to a drunk, or permitting disorderly conduct on a licensed premises.
The Minister has also held to his commitment to the provision of identifying marks on every container sold by off-licences, although the Bill does not specify how this is to be achieved. The National Off-Licence Association has said the proposal is "unworkable".
Mr McDowell said the speed with which the Government had moved showed its determination to address the public order and health worries arising from excessive alcohol consumption.
The Bill took account of a number of concerns raised by Opposition members last week, he said.
Appealing for co-operation to ensure that the Bill is enacted before the summer recess, he said the political will was there on all sides to deal with the problem of alcohol-related harm.
Mr McDowell said he still had "an open mind" on aspects of the Bill. Proposals for young people to carry age documents could be deferred until later in the year, he suggested.