No ban on early houses

FG TD Charlie Flanagan said he supported the reprieve given to early houses but said that it was a U-turn.

Dermot Ahern said his Bill would reduce by 29 hours a week the time in which alcohol may be sold by supermarkets, petrol stations and off-licences.

This would be achieved by changing the earliest time for alcohol to be sold in such outlets from 7.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and 12.30pm on Sundays.

The system of theatre licences - allowing pubs to stay open to 4am - had been an incentive to nightclubs to get such licences, he said. In future they might only operate to normal licensing hours, except where they got an exemption from the courts.

He said the idea of having early houses may sound antiquated but said those who argued in favour of them had made a reasonable case.  He said the number of people working on nightshifts was increasing and not shrinking.

Deputy Flanagan said his party will be supporting the Bill.

He also supported the idea of doing away with theatre licences.

He  said there was a 29% increase in the number of such licences given out in the last 5 years.  Currently there are 80 such premises operating with such licences, with 20 applications pending.

He also said there huge increase in the number of off licences here in recent years.

In the last 7 years there had been a trebling in the number to the current total of 4,300.

Source: RTE, 25/06/2008