Results 841-860 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I am sticking to the point.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I refer to the purpose of this Bill and I want to address Senator Quinn's point on the nanny state.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: If restricting the availability of alcohol and the opening hours during which people can avail of alcohol represents a nanny state then I say "guilty as charged".

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will refer to the survey by the British Home Office because it is interesting. It notes evidence from countries that have moved from strict opening hours to a more relaxed regime, such as Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Iceland, and the experience has been that liberalised regimes tend to result in higher levels of alcohol consumption and more alcohol related problems of crime and...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The survey of police forces indicated that crimes committed between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. were up by 22%. Meanwhile, three quarters of health authorities surveyed reported increases in spending as a result of a rise in accident and emergency department admissions between those times.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: This is why I cannot accept Senator Regan's suggestion that we should keep these nightclubs open until 4 a.m. The Government has decided that they should close at 3 a.m. and, unfortunately, this means Senator Bacik cannot dance all night in a nightclub. There is a serious issue in the relationship we have with alcohol. I would love if our relationship with it were similar to that on the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: This Bill is the first instalment of serious new legislative measures to curtail the public disorder associated with alcohol. All governments, including this one, will have to address this issue. I do not see how tourists can find it attractive to come to Ireland and see people falling out of pubs drunk, getting into fights and having problems with the police.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I do not know of any evidence to suggest tourists come to Ireland to drink at 4 a.m. Figures show that most tourists who come to Ireland are low imbibers of alcohol who tend to be rather more sedentary than the locals regarding drinking practices and nightclub attendance. The surveys from tourist authorities show little demand from tourists for the all-night dancing and drinking experiences...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: It is not outdated in the literal sense, in that it was introduced in 2003. I do not wish to pun, but this is not to be and I cannot accept the amendment. It seeks to repeal section 12 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, which prohibits entertainment during the 30-minute period of drinking-up time following normal closing time and special exemption orders. Section 12 of the 2003 Act was...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: There seems to be a textual confusion in this amendment. It is difficult to make sense of. It refers to the District Court exercising discretion in granting licences and the need to avoid closing a significant number of premises in a particular locality at the same time on the same day or days. In fact, the District Court does not grant licences. The key point here is that the timing...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Senator Regan for this amendment, but it is not necessary since the content is already covered in section 4(1)(d), which prohibits off-sales during any period covered by a general exemption order.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Naturally, I will observe the parliamentary and political proprieties. I am here to listen——

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: ——and be persuaded that the amendments are meritorious. If they are, I will accept those amendments. There is a process to be observed called democracy. We must go through these amendments seriatim and decide if they are appropriate. I will give the replies as the amendments arise. Some of the amendments are extremely good and their substance will be incorporated in future legislation...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Just because the Senator has a good idea from time to time does not mean I am enacting bad law. The Government has not framed any particular amendments to this Bill and as Senator O'Donovan stated earlier, some fairly significant concessions from the Government side have already been made with regard to two issues. These are the matters of early houses and separation of alcohol products,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I am at the guidance of the Leas-Chathaoirleach in this matter. As I understand it, with committee meetings dealing with Committee Stage of legislation in committee rooms as distinct from the full Chamber, Ministers remain seated. I am open to persuasion from the Leas-Chathaoirleach as to whether I should stand or sit.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will first address Senator Alex White's amendment No. 1. I understand the purpose of the amendment is to create a new collective citation for the Courts Acts, which would incorporate the Courts of Justice Acts and the Courts (Supplementary Provisions) Acts. Irrespective of the merits of having a new collective citation for all courts legislation on the lines proposed in the amendment, the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will do so. Every time a Government has tried to address this issue and challenge vested interests in the alcohol industry, efforts have been made to thwart it. We have reached a key juncture and if we do not introduce legislation, we will not get to grips with our national alcohol problem. Speedy legislation is required to put down a definite marker. A range of vested interests,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will adhere to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's instruction to comment only on the amendment tabled by Senator Alex White. I assure the Senator that the matter to which he refers is being dealt with under the joint codification project in which the Department is engaged with the Law Reform Commission. When that project is complete, there will be a unified corpus of law relating to this area. I...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I acknowledge Senator Quinn's renowned expertise in the area of retailing. It is important to understand what the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said in respect of this section. He clearly stated that he will not be commencing this aspect of the separation in respect of mixed trading environments where alcohol, food items and other products are sold together if the vested...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I do not want to get into a lengthy reply on the matter. I accept the principle behind Senator Quinn's suggestion. However, impact assessments of the kind he suggests should be done before legislation is introduced rather than, as he proposes, afterwards. I put my hands in the air to a certain extent with regard to the rushed nature of the legislation. As a Minister of State in the...