Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Thank you. Reservations have been expressed by Members about the short time available to Members to acquaint themselves with the Intoxicating Liquor Bill and to conduct the necessary research. It is not appropriate for the Minister to publish a Bill in the morning and expect spokespersons to stay in the House all day to debate it. Ascot is on at present but I do not expect the Minister, Deputy McDowell, to go there like his colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, goes to Cheltenham.