Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I too would like to support Deputy Flanagan's amendment and I appeal to the Minister to accept it. When Mr. Holmes addressed our committee, I gave the example where the joint policing committee in Tralee suggested that the bar should close a half hour earlier. According to the local superintendent, the incidents of public disorder decreased because of that. However, we were not referring to the two night clubs in the town at that time.

This is about public order. It is about preventing flash points all over towns and cities in Ireland. When people leave the bar, the majority of them will go to a night club. That can prevent people from crowding around flash points and they have somewhere to go. By 4 a.m. they will have sobered up. If that element is taken out, then we could create a major problem, perhaps even mayhem in some cases.

I know that the Minister listens to people. If he listens in this instance, he would be making a major contribution. Sequential closing times are operating in Dublin at the moment, with the agreement of the various night club proprietors. Apparently, it is very successful. That example supports this amendment. The night clubs in my constituency are very well run, as they have high standards and there is always security. If they are not comfortable, people will not enter them, unlike some bars. They also provide a very good product. If there is no time lapse, then night clubs will be no different from bars and we will lose an essential social element. Deputy Rabbitte also pointed out that they are part of our tourism business. All over Europe, bars open later at night and Dublin is thriving with tourists. However, this part of the Bill could be to the detriment of the tourism industry. I appeal to the Minister to accept Deputy Flanagan's proposal.

See this speech in context