Mr. James Finan:

If we were given the ability to open our doors later, we probably would not do so most nights. Changing the licensing system would not mean people would have more money to go out to socialise. We would probably not choose to stay open until 4 a.m. most nights, as we would still have to pay all of our staff and so on. As the change would not line the pockets of everyone going out at night, nothing would really change in that sense. However, it would mean that when an event or festival such as the Galway International Arts Festival was held, with 6,000 people attending, we could carry on entertaining them throughout the night. It would not add to the level of anti-social behaviour either. The way we operate forces everyone out of venues at the exact same time, which puts a strain on Garda resources and transport services. If the times were staggered, some of the pressures might be alleviated.