Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the members of the VFI and LVA. I also welcome former Senator Imelda Henry, who does trojan work on behalf of the vintners. I support this Bill. The Good Friday proposal dates back to the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1927 and the proposals also applied to Christmas Day and St. Patrick's Day. In the 1960s St. Patrick's Day was taken from the list and only Good Friday is left. Senator Norris spoke about the Munster rugby game on Good Friday four years ago and that was one of the most positive days we ever witnessed in Limerick. Visitors came from France to play Munster in a quarter final and there was a special exemption licence.

The important thing is choice. Nobody is forcing anybody to go into a pub or forcing a pub to open but people would be given the choice. If pubs wish to open and people wish to go to the pub, they will be able to do so. Many people go to sporting clubs and other places which are permitted to sell alcohol on Good Friday during certain hours, but they are not forced to go.

Some Members mentioned binge drinking. One sees people on Holy Thursday filling up their trolleys in supermarkets as if they were never going to see a drink again. Having the choice of drinking in a regulated manner is much better than forcing people to queue up in supermarkets. People who binge drink have no control over their drinking but if they are in a pub and get a measured drink they remain aware.Tourism has taken off in Ireland. All the reports show that the number of tourists visiting the country is rising. A few years ago I attended a conference in Tralee organised by a voluntary organisation during the Easter bank holiday weekend. We were invited to go for a meal with the guests attending the conference. Most of the restaurants were closed on Good Friday because of the fact they could not sell alcohol on the day. The hotel in which we were staying served tables in relays because there were so few places open. A number of restaurants close on Good Friday because they do not sell alcohol.

My colleagues in Sinn Féin raised the question of overtime payments for staff. I worked in private industry for approximately 12 years. We worked on Good Friday as it was in our contract of work and were not paid a penny extra because it is not a bank holiday. I think everybody is forgetting that today. While I agree staff must be looked after, they must work within the requirement. The message today is about choice. It is welcome that the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, stated the Government will not oppose the Bill in principle and wants to work with everybody. It is possible that pubs will have the choice of opening on Good Friday next year. That is an important message.

People attending sporting occasions people have the choice of drinking. They are not abusing it. Nobody is forcing them to drink and that is an important message to put across.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton for his comments. I will be supporting the Bill.