Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for coming into the House today and I am glad we can urgently deal with this Bill. The Bill closes a loophole which I did not believe existed but one never knows the way people's opinions vary. The Bill was deemed to be necessary. Everybody approves of the No Name Clubs and discos for young people which allow enjoyment without intoxicating liquor. The Minister and his Department deemed the Bill to be necessary, although I read during the summer that he said it was not but other persons and agencies disagreed and it had to be introduced. We welcome that aspect of the Bill.

The Minister accepted the amendment to allow for a change in the time when children may be on the premises, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., having previously accepted one in this House for a change from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. I have not moved from my position, which some Members shared, that I never agreed with young children being in pubs. When I go out for a drink I do not want very young children dancing around my feet and knocking over bottles and shrieking. I love children and am a most adoring parent and grandparent but I know their limitations in hot, crowded circumstances. We are portrayed as if we want to embrace our families and bring them with us as appendages wherever we go. That was thought to be our lovely trait, hence we wanted to bring children to the pubs. There is a great difference between bringing babies and very young children into pubs and those of more adult years who can contain themselves and behave appropriately.

Many pub owners said that this provision was a difficulty for them. They might, however, think of their customers who do not share that point of view. I was of the view contained in the earlier Bill and have not changed simply because the Minister has agreed to change the time. If it eases a burden on pub owners, that is a good thing. It is for the summer months only because the main tenor of the argument appeared to be based on tourists who wanted to embrace their families for 24 hours of the day — they will get sense. The idea is presumably motivated by many representations made to the office of the Minister and the Department and through the political parties.

We welcome the Bill. I particularly welcome the codification Bill the Minister is bringing to Cabinet soon. It would be a very good idea to bring it to this House first where we will give it a thorough airing; I say this so that the Minister will know what colour paper to print it on. We will be very glad to deal with it.