Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Quinn, Alex White, Mary White, Regan, O'Donovan and Mullen expressed concern about the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008, which is coming before the House today and tomorrow. I can assure the Senators that they will have all the time they require. I do not mind how late we sit any of the days in discussing this.

Senator O'Donovan expressed the great concern — which I know comes from the highest levels in the Garda Síochána — over the 170 theatre licences. As one whose background is in the entertainment world, I do not know where these are. That was never the spirit of the measure in which the Government and legislators on all sides of the House wanted to help provide a level playing field to the theatres so that they could continue to survive at the time. I am thinking of all the great people who work in the world of entertainment and the theatre. I will not say much more about it, except that it was never the spirit that an establishment would have a pub licence during the day and then, in order to be able to stay open very late at night, would have a theatre licence until 3.30 a.m.

All legislators in the House want to do the right thing. I thank Senators for expressing concern about the time allocated to the Bill. As Leader from 2007 to 2008 and from 1997 to 2002, I never guillotined a Bill in the Seanad, nor will I with this Bill. What I will tell the House is that it will sit very late tonight and tomorrow night if Senators wish to avail of the time to discuss the Bill in detail. There are experienced Members here in the House who can assist the Minister and the Department with the legislation.

As has been stated already, a major Bill on the broader liquor issues, and the role of advertising in liquor on which Senator Mary White expressed strong views here, will be before the House in the late autumn. We can have a debate on that before the Bill comes to the House. The work of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights has been invaluable, particularly on the Intoxicating Liquor Bill.