Seanad debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2003

Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

I raised at committee level concerns about children in pubs. I retain those concerns, despite the Minister's comments at last week's meeting. We must separate the issues of children in pubs and under age drinking because they are totally different. Some people do not like children in pubs, but I do not have that concern. It is very much a moralising thing for us to make judgments about parents who bring their children into pubs. I am concerned that this provision is possibly anti-family and anti-parents of a certain age who have children under a particular age. I do not agree with children being in pubs unaccompanied or running riot, but parents with children should be facilitated, as is currently the case, in pubs and hotels. I am not ruling out considering this issue, but it is wrong to bring this provision forward at this stage. I suggest that the Minister consider a later time, perhaps 10 p.m. rather than 9 p.m.

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