Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, which relate largely to the restriction on sales being linked to a tour, about which I spoke briefly on Committee Stage. The proposal in the amendment is sensible. In recent years we had the positive stories of many small businesses in rural areas that have developed their own food products and organic foods, including cheeses, honey and so on. People will visit these places to obtain those products. Many of these small breweries are quite small businesses. They need whatever supports and opportunities are available to them. People should be in a position where they can travel to these breweries and distilleries and purchase the product. The products may not be widely available in supermarkets. There may be a small selection of shops in which they can be bought. Therefore, the obvious place to buy these products is at the brewery or the distillery, which can only sell their own products.

It is not reasonable to suggest, as was done on Committee Stage, that this would be an alternative form of licensing for licensed premises as a result of which there may be unintended consequences. The objective in the amendment is sensible. As Deputy Wallace outlined, the idea that we could properly enforce the obligation to provide a tour is not reasonable. These businesses deserve the opportunity to sell their own wares. That would be the case anywhere else in the world and they should be permitted to do that under this legislation.

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