Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ós rud é nach bhfuil mórán ama againn, caithfimid bheith sciobtha. Tháinig sé aniar aduaidh orm nuair a chuala mé scéal ar an Déardaoin go raibh fadhb i nGaillimh maidir le bheith ag freastal alcóil taobh amuigh de na pubanna agus na bialanna. Labhair mé leis an Aire an oíche sin agus - ceart go leor - d'eisigh sí ráiteas a thagair don tuiscint a bhí ag an Roinn. It is interesting to read the Garda statement, which specifies:

Licences to sell alcohol are issued by the District Court. The application for a licence to sell alcohol is accompanied by the lodgment of inter alia a site plan highlighting the specific area to which the licence will apply. The licensee is licensed to sell intoxicating liquor to a person to consume the alcohol within that highlighted area only, any other sales are on a takeaway basis only.

In other words, if something is not provided for on the licence, it is illegal.

We cannot go ahead without absolute clarity in the law. My question to the Minister of State is whether we are going to get either primary legislation or a new statutory instrument, whichever is needed and would suffice, to get rid of any doubt in the law. It is not fair to ask An Garda Síochána to show discretion that is contrary to the law.

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