Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, subsection (7)(a), lines 8 to 10, to delete "9.00 p.m. (10.00 p.m. during the period commencing on 1 May and ending on 30 September)" and substitute "10.00 p.m.".

The Minister has, in effect, dealt with these amendments. I am not keen on a return to the distinction between the licensing laws in the winter and the summer. I suspect that some parts of the Minister's brain must have been severely stretched by the consolidation of all the legislation. It is an interesting commentary on our culture that while we see the pub and the consumption of alcohol as part of our social life, we have also generated an extraordinary raft of legislation in that regard. It is as if our collective national brain has two sides, one entirely devoted to the enjoyment of alcohol and the other devoted to pretending that we do not really enjoy alcohol. The result is that we have created a raft of legislation. I understand that the Minister will not accept the amendment I have moved. I have plenty of things to fall out with the Minister about, so I will not fall out with him about this matter.