Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputies for their time and input on this matter. It is intended that the extension of the Act until 31 May 2023 will continue to provide clarity in respect of the provisions relating to outdoor dining for licence holders, patrons and the Garda. It is clear that there is ongoing demand for the provision of outdoor dining. In the meantime, as I outlined earlier, work is progressing on the drafting of the sale of alcohol Bill, which will provide a long-term solution to the issue and many other issues which bedevil our outdated and unnecessarily complex licensing system. By extending the Act until May, businesses will be able to continue to utilise outdoor spaces for a further six-month period.

The Minister recognises there is great interest among Deputies in the sale of alcohol Bill. It is an extensive piece of legislation that will benefit from detailed discussion and debate. The general scheme of the Bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny and the Minister awaits with interest the outcome of the committee's consideration and engagement with various sectoral groups. It is important that we hear all views and opinions in respect of the reform of our licensing laws. The publication of the general scheme is an indication of the Government's commitment to modernising our licensing laws. The provisions made by the general scheme are envisaged to provide us with a more streamlined, up-to-date and cost-effective licensing system. It is important that we continue to modernise our licensing laws to meet the demands of today's society. Through the reforms outlined in the general scheme, we aim to revitalise our hospitality sector and our night-time economy culture for the benefit of businesses, patrons and our local communities in general, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.

I am pleased to address the specific issues of outdoor dining provisions today on behalf of the Minister, who intends to provide a long-term solution in due course. We have achieved an important milestone with the approval of the general scheme of the sale of alcohol Bill by Government and its publication last month. The Minister assures colleagues that she is committed to bringing forward these important reforms in order to ensure that our hospitality industry has the modernised and streamlined framework our society requires.

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