Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am just finishing.

This tough approach is so laughable that just six months ago, Burger King is on record complaining to An Bord Pleanála that it was unfair it was not allowed to extend their opening hours in Killarney when McSorley’s nightclub trades until 4 am. I do not believe for a second that Killarney is the only place that has a problem with the licensing laws but County Kerry does seem to be a basket case when it comes to prosecuting cases in the District Courts. In 2016 in Listowel there were 43 prosecutions in the District Court of which two resulted in convictions; in Tralee there were 14 prosecutions and one conviction; in Killorglin, 18 prosecutions and one conviction; in Caherciveen, 27 prosecutions and one conviction; and in Dingle, Kenmare and Killarney there were seven, 19 and 26 prosecutions, respectively, and zero convictions in each case. The conviction rate for the whole of County Kerry in 2016 was 3%.

Across the country there are even more bizarre anomalies that require further scrutiny. From 2012 to 2016 the total number of prosecutions in Wicklow and Arklow towns was two, neither of which resulted in a prosecution. Either publicans are so compliant in these areas that the gardaí there can spend their time looking after the Christmas trees or the gardaí have just ignored that licensing laws need to be enforced. Dundalk, with a 30% conviction rate from 2010 to 2016, illustrates the lack of consistency.

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