Results 1-20 of 32 for speaker:Eddie Bohan

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2002)

Eddie Bohan: I watched the recent television programme to which reference has been made and was greatly shocked by it. I venture to say 99% of publicans in Dublin and throughout the country also found it shocking. They are not responsible for what was shown on the programme, which showed events happening at 3 a.m. The individuals involved were staggering out of night clubs. It is now common practice for...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption by Young People: Statements. (11 Dec 2002)

Eddie Bohan: I wish to share time with Senator MacSharry. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern. I agree with the comments of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and most of what has been said by other Senators. Publicans, whom I represent, do not agree with under age drinking and do...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (5 Mar 2003)

Eddie Bohan: As a Longford man, I extend my sympathy to the O'Reilly family. While I was born and reared only a few miles from the home of the late Senator, I never had the pleasure of knowing him. Given the difficulty of getting into this place for even one term, 25 years of service is an outstanding achievement.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Apr 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I support Senator Higgins's call for an amnesty for those holding provisional driving licences. I know quite a number who have been driving on such licences for the past ten years. The waiting list for driving tests is so long that people are put off from applying. It is time to legalise the situation by granting an amnesty for those driving on provisional licences for over three years.

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I will confine my remarks to the issue of smoking because the issue of alcohol consumption has been thrashed out previously. As a representative of publicans, I must state that we do not condone the abuse of alcohol. I estimate that 99% of people go out to enjoy a drink and do not cause trouble. It is disturbing when one sees reports about alcohol consumption on programmes such as "Prime...

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Eddie Bohan: That is another issue. I do not know how these proposals could be enforced without major difficulties – verging on riot situations – arising in these pubs. An individual in New York was stabbed to death when he interfered with somebody who was smoking. I hope that will never happen here. It will be difficult to police the no smoking ban in pubs with 600 or 700 customers where eight or ten...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I, and those I represent, welcome the Bill which is excellent legislation in many respects, although we would be concerned about a few aspects. On the question of drunkenness, we would like to see stiffer penalties applied to those who are drunk. We had a dreadful occasion recently in Swinford where people visiting a pub refused to leave when asked. They wanted more drink but were refused....

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I agree with the comments of Senator O'Toole. It is very difficult to prevent drunkenness on a premises. No sane publican wishes people to get too drunk, but if a person enters a premises sober to have a pint while minding their own business and not causing problems, where do you draw the line? When do you say he has had enough if he has done nothing wrong and insulted nobody? Nobody would go...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I agree with previous speakers about mandatory closing, which is a draconian measure. It is not just the loss of business for a week while staff are being paid but the effect that has on the reputation of the house. The effect would be enormous, even though the closure might occur for little reason. I assure the House that my organisation and I have no time for anyone who serves under age...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I should have declared earlier that I have a vested interest.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I do not believe that the roll-back of one hour on Thursdays will make any difference to the problem of absenteeism from work on Friday mornings. It will not affect many public houses in suburban areas but down town, where tourism has a major input and with late night shopping, especially on Thursdays, if people leave a pub at 11.30 p.m. instead of 12.30 a.m., they will go to the clubs, of...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: —because the extension to 12.30 a.m. did not make much difference. However, I see where the Minister is coming from with the commission. As he said, he will bring forward a bigger Bill in 2004. In the meantime we will see how this works out.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: Most of the larger pubs in the Dublin area already have CCTV cameras installed because so many of them have been sued for refusing service to people. Their only defence was to have a camera to show that these people created trouble or problems. Publicans were being sued by people who claimed to have slipped in toilets etc. so the cameras have been installed in the publicans' own interest.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I am glad the Minister has changed the time from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Like Senator Dardis, however, I do not know how it will be enforced. The hotels the Senator mentioned will have a major problem with it. A large number of public houses in the Minister's constituency have a thriving food business. Many take their families out on Saturday and Sunday evenings for a meal and, during the summer, it...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I am surprised at Senator O'Toole. I thought that we should commend the Minister for making the change. Recently, matters reached a stage with the tribunal where there was a mini-industry of people, particularly members of the Traveller community, suing publicans – for whom I speak. The publican had no say in the matter and the equality officer or whoever it may have been was awarding sums...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (19 Jun 2003)

Eddie Bohan: I thank the Chair. I thank the Minister and his officials who have put a lot of time and work into this excellent Bill. We might be happier if he could accommodate us in some areas but all in all this is a good Bill with which the people I represent should be reasonably happy. I thank the Minister for meeting the representations we made at times when he was extremely busy.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Eddie Bohan: I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government what he intends to do about the farce in Carrickmines, where a pile of stones has held up construction of the M50 and has inconvenienced tens of thousands of people for the past number of years. A gentleman living hundreds of miles away in Kerry has been able to hold up work for years through the Supreme...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Eddie Bohan: I support Senator Tuffy's call for a change in the legislation in regard to under 18s having to leave hotels and public houses after 9 p.m. Some 80% of public houses serve food and for many it is the biggest part of their business. It is ludicrous that a 17 year old, who is out with his or her parents, is asked to leave a premises at9 p.m. We are coming into the summer when many tourists and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Eddie Bohan: I do not know from where the figure of a 15 cent increase in the price of a pint came. The newspapers, as usual, had it on the front pages. Diageo is to add 6 cent plus VAT per pint. The Licensed Vintners' Association and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland have fought hard with Guinness over the past number of months to try to avoid this increase, but the company is not listening. These...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Eddie Bohan: ——and price increases. The high prices are due to the extremely high taxes here. I hope the Minister will consider harmonising our tax and excise duties with the rest of Europe. I do not know where the figure of 15 cent came from, but I know it will not be implemented.