Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy David Stanton, and his colleague, a senior official from the Department. I thank them both for coming in. I commend Senator Lawless for bringing forward this Bill. It is very clear cut and supported by Senators Boyhan, McDowell and Craughwell. It is a great achievement after just one year in the House to bring forward a Private Members' Bill and to have it debated in the House. The Senator has brought great knowledge from his experience in business and in the licensed trade.

I welcome former Senator Imelda Henry to the House. On 3 July 2014, she brought forward a similar Bill in the House called the Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2014, which was not progressed at that stage and did not get the kind of coverage this Bill is getting. Things have moved on.

I have to declare an interest because I am part-owner of Castlecoote Lodge, bar and replica Dáil and Seanad lounge, in Castlecoote, Roscommon. In 2014, I expressed reservations about opening on Good Friday. I said at the time that there are two special days in the Christian calendar. They are the birth of our Lord and his death on Good Friday. Since that, like Paul on the road to Damascus, I have had a revelation.