Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like the other members, I welcome the Bill and thank the Minister and Deputy Kelly for the work they have done. Deputy Wallace mentioned that the €500 fee will be prohibitive for some of the smaller start-up breweries. Is there any flexibility around the amendment he has proposed?

I refer to the guided tour obligation. What oversight does the Minister propose for that? In terms of people who purchase a guided tour, how will completion be assessed in the context of the licence? Is it unnecessarily difficult in the context of the Bill? Will a licence provider sell a particular tour with an option for completion? Perhaps the Minister could explain how completion will be assessed in the context of the licence being proposed. While I understand the reasons behind it, I am not sure how State oversight can be provided for in the legislative criteria in the context of the licence. It could easily be circumvented by particular microbreweries if a tour is not possible, as Deputy Wallace said. How does the Minister see the amendment being adhered to in the context of what he is proposing?