Lynn Ruane (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It usually turns on itself. What I said before might not be on the record now, which is grand. Well done, lads. Well done.

In all seriousness, there are a few conversations around public order and public health, which are then squashed into this idea that if there are more venues and people are out longer, that somehow is counterintuitive to ensuring that there are fewer public order offences or less impact on public health. One only has to look at the number of drinks ordered as soon as last orders are called to see where the public health issues lie, when people go up, buy six or seven drinks and try to get that amount of alcohol into them before they leave the pub, Everything on the table in front of them is finished before they leave. If that intake is spread across the night and people leave when they are ready, then they will probably drink less.

On the general scheme, the first thing I would do is change the name of the proposed Bill. The conversation happens on two extremes, namely, the sale of alcohol versus public health. There are also conversations regarding culture, arts, theatre, community and everything else. We made efforts to make sure that the witnesses covered that cultural space, but, unfortunately, there were people who we invited who could not come along. We have ended up with those two dichotomies of conversation when looking at the next one.

I have some questions marked out and I will get them straight to the witnesses. Mr. Kitt and Mr. Sharpe referred to the cultural amenity, a matter on which Senator Warfield asked a question. I think Mr. Kitt and Mr. Sharpe answered that question.

I have a question for Mr. O’Keeffe. He mentioned wine licences. Can he elaborate a little further on that matter? Is it just because it is not in addition to some other event happening? There are many wine bars across Europe that are open late into the night. They seem to work quite well.

The sunset clause was mentioned. For three years, there would still be selling of licences. Somebody else recommended that it be eight years. Are the witnesses saying there should be no sunset clause?