Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because I know time is short for amendments and the debate. This is more draconian legislation. I have heard regularly from people of machinery being stopped on the road. The Road Safety Authority checks on a machine to see if it is working and use ceases for the day. Such a person has the chance to go back. However, if a licensed premises is closed like this, it would have an unintended, or maybe intended, impact when the licence holder goes back to licensing in September.

I wish the Government people voted for this could see the implications of it. Its members are standing up here talking about support for publicans and about how a roadmap is on the way. There is no roadmap. This legislation and the abject refusal to accept any amendments simply go to show it is a sledgehammer and an attempt to bulldoze the legislation through.

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