Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

We are entering the record books this morning in a number of ways. We have another intoxicating liquor Bill and I dare say it is the shortest Bill this House has been asked to consider for some time. It contains a mere three sections.

I would like to commence my brief contribution with a quotation mentioned in Constance Cassidy's book, Cassidy on the Licensing Acts: It states:

The provisions of the numerous statutes which regulate licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquor in Ireland are so complex, so uncertain and so contradictory that it is difficult to carry them into effect or to reach the meaning and intention of the Legislature.

The quotation comes from Lord Justice Fitzgerald in 1877. Since then, numerous statutes have been added to the long list to which Lord Justice Fitzgerald referred. His words ring true and carry the same validity in 2010 that they did in 1877.

I wonder why this single-issue Bill is necessary, or indeed worthy. The Minister quite rightly said we are following the precedent set in 1983, in the case of the National Concert Hall. I was not here on that occasion - neither was the Minister or Deputy Rabbitte - but I would have thought that the Intoxicating Liquor (National Concert Hall) Act 1983 was a short-term solution to an immediate problem of the time. The Minister will recall that the legislation in question was introduced when the Garda Síochána decided to appeal a Circuit Court decision to grant a theatre licence to the new National Concert Hall. The legislation was passed by the Oireachtas, thereby obviating what was likely to be a real and serious problem, before the appeal could be held in the High Court.

We have not really advanced matters to any extent since 1983. I am not sure whether it was envisaged at the time that a full Act of Parliament should be required every time a venue of this nature is opened to the public. Perhaps the Minister can clarify that in his response. More than anything, it underlines the need to codify our liquor licensing laws into a more coherent body of legislation. I recall that a Minister from my party indicated in the mid-1990s that she intended to embark on a codification of the liquor licensing laws. Very little has happened in the 16 years that have passed since then. I suggest, subject to correction in the Minister's reply, that an intoxicating liquor licensing Bill has been introduced almost every second year since the initial body of law was agreed in 1635. It is important to bring together the entire corpus of liquor licensing legislation. A reference was made earlier to the proposed sale of alcohol Bill, which will not address the matter in the comprehensive manner that is needed.

We are continuing to operate under the strictures mentioned in the preamble to the 1635 Act, which was introduced to respond to the concern of the English Parliament about the need to restrain the "regrettable excess in drinking" of the Irish populace. I suppose we are doing that today, in many respects, by regulating and restricting the manner in which alcohol is sold to those from home and abroad who attend events at the National Conference Centre. I understand that the centre is to be run by an outside agency. I wonder if it is worth considering the creation of a special licence for venues like convention centres and conference halls. The Minister mentioned that it is not a case of attaching an ordinary seven-day publican's licence to the premises, which is fair enough. As entry to the conference centre will be by ticket only, I assume alcohol will be served only to those people who have gained admission by way of ticket and are attending the conference as delegates. I do not object to the provision in the Bill whereby alcohol can generally be served up to one hour before and one hour after the events. It is important that a range of entertainment and beverages is available.

I congratulate the parties involved on the construction of this landmark building, which has already significantly enhanced the landscape of the quays of Dublin. The changed landscape, incorporating the conference centre, can be seen from far and wide, including some of the more plush offices on the fifth floor of the Leinster House office complex. The building must be classified as a monument to the Celtic tiger era. Now that the Celtic tiger is dead and buried, the desperate need for the business tourist revenue that this centre promises to bring must be underscored more than ever. In the era of the zombie hotel - 30 hotels closed in this city last year - I am somewhat surprised to learn that planning permission has been issued for the construction of a hotel on a site adjacent to the conference centre. Rather than building another hotel at a time when the current complement of hotels is starved of business and facing real and serious problems, I would have thought a more creative solution could be found, in partnership with the existing hotels in Dublin.

In November 2007, the then Minister, Séamus Brennan, predicted that the conference centre would help to double tourism revenue by 2013. I wonder how realistic that €1 billion target is today. I do not suppose the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has that information. The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport might be able to inform the House of the projections for business tourist revenue that are currently in operation. It was promised that the centre would host 200 events per annum, the majority of which would accommodate between 1,500 and 3,500 delegates. How do the bookings compare to that promise? These figures seem high, having regard to the venue's capacity of 8,000 people. How often will the centre be filled to capacity?

I understand that one of the bookings that have been taken is from the International Bar Association, which is a prestigious client to secure. Was the association attracted to Ireland by the possibility of a day trip to Dublin Castle to see our tribunal industry in action? I hope the conference centre will attract other high-profile clients. The development of the proposed metro from the city centre to the airport would facilitate the conference centre's business. My colleague, Deputy Olivia Mitchell, has suggested on numerous occasions that the Government tourism tax played a huge part in the sharp decline in tourist numbers last year. In light of the need to attract business tourists to the conference centre and elsewhere, I repeat her call for the tax to be removed.

I regret that I do not have more time to discuss this legislation, which I support notwithstanding my view that a comprehensive overhaul of the liquor licensing legislation is needed. Such a review would obviate the need for the Dáil to engage in the enactment of specific legislation every time a centre of this nature is opened. I will conclude on an optimistic note by wishing everyone well. I am confident that business tourists will flock to this country and to the new convention centre, Icelandic volcano ash permitting.

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