Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 5a:

In page 7, to delete lines 17 to 49 and in page 8, to delete lines 1 to 4 and substitute the following:

"(a) not later than 6 months after section 8 of this Act is commenced, the Minister shall lay before each House appropriate regulations for the structural separation for the sale of intoxicating liquor,

(b) such regulations shall be approved by each House and shall come into force not later than the first anniversary of such approval,

(c) the Minister shall, prior to laying of the above regulations before each House of the Oireachtas, consult with representatives of the industry to facilitate the practical implementation of the above regulations.".

This amendment concerns the structural separation for the sale of intoxicating liquor in mixed trading establishments or premises. It proposes that rather than make provision in the Bill for specific measures to be put in place without adequate consultation with the industry, the relevant regulations would be adopted by the Minister, following consultations, six months after the adoption of the Act. This is an alternative to rushing through a measure which could have unintended consequences and impose a burden on the retail sector that is disproportionate to the objective sought.