Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I agree with what has been said. I welcome the fact that the Minister has changed his mind about this provision. My amendment seeks to oppose the section and to have the status quo apply, but I accept the Minister's distinction between alcohol consumption on the premises and the selling of alcohol for consumption off the premises for the relevant hours is probably a better construction.

I am puzzled as to why this provision was included in the Bill. I instanced my puzzlement earlier about the fact that no young people, to my knowledge, have ever found themselves in early morning houses and the streets are usually well aired before they surface. I asked the Minister's predecessor whether it was reasonable to posit the notion of a housewife in Castleknock who could not access a bottle of wine early in the morning and whether she would get into her soft top and drive down the docks in the hope that she could get a bottle in that location. I do not believe that scenario is realistic. I cannot see the connection between the stated purpose of this Bill and the inclusion of this section and for that reason I am glad the Minister has changed his mind.

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