Seanad debates
Wednesday, 18 June 2003
Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage.
Representations were made about the definition of "licensee". There was concern that people acting on their behalf, be they staff or otherwise, would be covered by the definition. Perhaps the Minister will comment on this. What is the position of a leaseholder? A practice has arisen, which we should not discourage, whereby a large corporate entity has expanded into both the hotel and licensed vintners trade. It leases its pubs and ensures within the lease that they are operated to a good standard. I presume that the licensee would the leaseholder. Might complications arise in that regard? It seems a little unfair that if the leaseholder, who is the licensee, has passed on obligations to the lessee, that the lessee would not be culpable in some way in this regard. That struck me from some of the points made in the objections and comments the Minister received.
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