Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I agree with the change in today's Order of Business. Will we debate the Pharmacy Bill tomorrow? I hope we will not as it will go to the Dáil at 9.30 p.m. and if changes are made, it will mean an extremely short turnaround. It seems to be rushed and unfair to everyone involved.

Tomorrow, one of the most dangerous places any of us can be is near an off-licence because we will be met with people wheeling out trolleys full of alcohol as if it were going out of sale forever. This is owing to the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday. Is it time to update this out-of-date law and allow off-licences sell alcohol on Good Friday? We live in a multicultural society. People drink on Good Friday and, if anything, the prohibition encourages people to drink more than they normally do. I speak as somebody who is off alcohol for Lent and I do not intend to drink alcohol on Good Friday regardless of its availability.