Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, relate to the necessity of the tour restriction for off-sales which we believe is unworkable and we want it removed. My amendment No. 3, which is basically the same as Deputy Kelly's amendment No. 2, is to bring Report Stage in keeping with the view on Committee Stage. This is not about having a rival organisation to public houses or anything like that. There are only 62 production micro-breweries in the country. They are having a difficult enough time making ends meet. They produce a tiny percentage of the beer being consumed in the country, but from the way in which the legislation is being put forward now, one would think they were setting themselves up as a rival to Diageo. We do not accept that. Diageo and the big vintners can sell their products in pubs and supermarkets. What is being sought in these amendments is that these small fledgling indigenous industries will be given a fair crack of the whip and be allowed engage in off-sales without the restriction of having to provide a tour each time.

It is important to say my amendment will do away with the necessity of the brewery tour restriction, which is unenforceable. I will not repeat the points made by Deputy Wallace last night but it is unenforceable, useless and not necessary. Many people who love beer and the idea of micro-brewery production will be happy to do the tour voluntarily, but this amendment removes the requirement obligation to have the tour as part of an off-sale purchase.

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