Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming the Minister, Deputy Flanagan. I wish him well with his new portfolio. I also welcome the former Senator, Imelda Henry, and her colleagues in the Gallery. In particular, I commend Senator Lawless and his colleagues who co-sponsored the legislation. I welcome the passage of the Bill.

While I understand Senator O'Reilly's reservations, I am of the view that it is in the best interest of health and controlling the abuse of alcohol. We all know what happens at Easter and Christmas. There is a big stock-up of alcohol in private houses because the pubs are closed on Good Friday. Far more alcohol is consumed - in fact, dangerous levels are consumed - because the licensed premises are closed. I also contend that pubs being closed drives more people to drink on Good Friday than would do so if they were open.

Senator Ó Donnghaile mentioned the licensing laws in Northern Ireland. For as long as I can remember, droves of people have travelled to the Border towns in the North in order to take a drink on Good Friday. The only reason for doing so was that the pubs in the Republic were closed. While they might not necessarily have been going for a drink at all, it was something they could not do in the Republic on that particular day.