Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept for a minute what Deputy Flanagan says about lack of co-ordination between Departments. My Department is working very closely with the Department of Health and Children in relation to this and other initiatives on the health side.

It was clearly indicated when we published the general scheme for consultation in 2005 that we accepted there was a need for nightclub permits. That legislation will be brought forward towards the end of the year. The sale of alcohol Bill will involve a codification of the entire law on the sale of alcohol. We published the proposals in 2005, which included what the Deputy is endeavouring to do here. However, the difference between what we are bringing forward and what the Deputy proposes is that it is not my intention to move from the existing position of nightclubs and late bars opening until 2.30 a.m., with drinking up time until 3 a.m. on the Monday morning. I am driven by all of the issues, including the report of the Department of Health and Children on the harm caused by alcohol. The Deputy acknowledges is an enormous problem. The figures are frightening and this Bill will not solve all the issues, but we are endeavouring — as the advisory group indicated we should — to take urgent action to close a loophole that it is acknowledged exists.

We can exaggerate all we like about 500,000 people disgorging onto the streets. The reality is that was happening up until last year. Nightclubs and late bars only had authority to serve drink up to 2.30 a.m., with drinking up time until 3 a.m. Last year, there was a dramatic rise in the number of licences, albeit the numbers were relatively small, with 76 in the country and 36 in Dublin. This year, the figure to date already is 150. Taking a full year, that means 74 extra premises have an advantage over all the other late bars and night clubs and, in effect, have longer opening hours. The amendment suggests that this be extended to virtually everybody.

Deputy Flanagan's proposal in regard to a nightclub permit provides that nightclubs would only open at night. However, the vast majority of nightclub owners who made representations said this provision would not satisfy them; the reason being that all of them already have bar licences. Therefore, they would not be satisfied with that type of proposal. In the forthcoming sale of alcohol Bill, we will propose the introduction of a nightclub permit, under which the club would have specific conditions, including the type of dance floor and so on——

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