Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Acting Chairman agrees with me.

On a serious note, I am delighted for Senator Lawless. It is not everyone who can say they successfully got a Private Members' Bill over the line. I did need persuasion on the necessity to have pubs open on Good Friday. There are 365 days in the year and they are only closed for two. It is not the biggest crime in the world to leave them closed. I have, however, been persuaded by the arguments, particularly those of Senator Black, given her background, experience and phenomenal work. If she does not have a problem with the Bill, I do not think any of us really can have one. I congratulate Senator Lawless.

The Government amendments are primarily technical to ensure that equity flows across all the beer pipes, as it were, in the pubs throughout the country. We have seen a remarkable growth in the brewing and craft beer industry. In County Clare, we have the craft brewers' festival in Doolin, which is one of the most successful festivals in the county. It was created because of the number of cottage breweries that exist in the country. There is proposed legislation to improve brewing. The Minister might like to inform the House as to when he intends to bring that legislation forward.

I have also noted media commentary over the weekend that the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, has proposals to protect rural pubs. It is a big challenges. In lots of villages, pubs are now only really open at weekends. There is no way they can make a viable living out of it. Many publicans must now find day jobs and so forth. We need some thinking outside the box in terms of protecting what is part of the fabric of rural society. We often talk about the importance of the post offices. The pubs have a critical role to play as well, particularly for people who live alone. We need some creative thinking in that regard. I am in the presence of some very successful publicans. Senator Leyden owns the Dáil Bar in County Roscommon and Senator Byrne is a very successful publican from a line of many generations in Limerick. There is a lot of service to the hospitality industry in this House.

I welcome the thinking outside the box it is hoped the Government will do. A lot of people are worried, particularly about the proposed legislation on drinking and driving and so forth. The pubs have an important role to play in society. I commend Deputy Lawless on his Bill.