Mr. Padraic White:

That is correct. There would be stand-alone operations if the Bill were implemented, but in effect the rationale for the RRAI, the structure we have, the supervision and compliance enforcement and the public complaints mechanism would disappear.

Two specific issues were raised by members. In response to Deputy Billy Kelleher’s question on the stand-alone off-licence sector, there was a clear recommendation in the substance misuse report that the Department of Health should develop an appropriate code for it. It is defined as a premises that sells alcohol plus such items as ice cream and sweets. Clearly, the same code would not apply as applies in a full-range supermarket. One of the things that really provokes and annoys the normal supermarkets is that they could be in the same street and they are barred from having any alcohol in the window or any advertising, yet two doors down the road one could have a stand-alone off-licence with windows full of alcohol and advertising. It is a puzzle to me. I strongly ask the committee to press for a statutory code for the stand-alone off-licence sector. It has no code whatsoever but, interestingly, its members are the ones who complain most often about the code we have.

In response to Senator Colm Burke, where the statutory code would be strengthened would be in the mandatory separation of alcohol from food and beverages. It would not be as far as possible; it would be mandatory. That is critical. Strengthening the statutory code would ensure mandatory separation of food and beverages for all stores, bar the small specialist food shops. For larger stores it would be mandatory that one would not have to pass through alcohol to get to food.