Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

——but the only difference between it and a special exemption order is that it would be a yearly permit. In order words, nightclub owners would only have to renew their permits once a year in the courts because their premises are dedicated nightclubs, whereas the owners of late bars would have to continue to apply for special exemption orders.

It is not my intention to change the time of closing given that, as a nation, we have an alcohol problem of near epidemic proportions. The general public are strongly of the view that public disorder would occur as a result of such a change. Gardaí have given a strong message that they believe the position that pertained up until two years ago whereby under the law late bars and restaurants in effect closed at the same time, would be far better than having staggered opening hours.

I accept Deputy Flanagan's point that not every one of the 500,000 people concerned would go from pub to late bar to nightclub, but I hazard a guess that a substantial proportion of them would go from one to the other. That has been the nature of what has happened. I accept that a relatively younger population go to these nightclubs. Like most people in this House, I am a parent and I see what is going on in society. This provision is not only targeted at young people, but on most occasions when they go out young people do not come home until 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. The reality is they are in public houses. We give out about the fact that there is disorder on our streets at different times. Gardaí have given a strong message that from a resources point of view, it is better that people come out of these premises within a concentrated period.

No one has denied the empirical evidence found in virtually every study that has been carried out in regard the extension of opening hours. The case has been proven, as it was in the UK recently, that such a change has had an adverse effect rather than the type of effect people had intended.

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