Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Such a provision was provided for in previous legislation. I had no problem with that, as long as the District or Circuit Court decided on it. With regard to the question of the duty, the sum is fixed in the legislation. However, it could be changed by the Finance Act. It is a standard provision to fix the sum in the legislation and then, subsequently, to reconsider it.

Deputy Flanagan raised the issue of racecourses. If a racecourse is approved under the existing legislation regulating racecourses, it then has an automatic licence to sell intoxicating liquor during and around the time of the race event. It is unnecessary therefore to have special legislation for racecourses. I take the Deputy's point with regard to having separate Bills for the National Concert Hall and now the national convention centre. We propose, through the Sale of Alcohol Bill, to take care of this situation so that we will not have to come to the House on a piecemeal basis with separate pieces of legislation.

Deputy Rabbitte raised the issue of hotels. Well upholstered barristers would be more than pleased to hear the statistic that Dublin is now one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, capitals in the world for hotel beds. The increase in the supply of hotel beds in this city is a good news story. Despite the suggestion that there is a surplus of hotel beds in the country, friends of mine abroad who wanted to come here for a rugby international could not get a bed next or near Dublin. The fact we have a lot of hotel beds has been a factor in the dramatic reduction of prices, but we still have excellent facilities.

I have no view with regard to the specific planning application for a hotel near the conference centre. It is a matter entirely for the promoters to decide whether they want to put their money into a proposal for that location. I suspect it would be a good proposition, given the proximity of the national conference centre. However, it is subject to planning applications. I wish them the best of luck.

See this speech in context