Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

10:30 am

Photo of Billy LawlessBilly Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, for taking the Bill today. I also thank the Leader, Senator Buttimer, for honouring his commitment and ensuring that Committee and Final Stages of the Bill are being taken today. I also thank the co-sponsors of the Bill, Senators McDowell, Craughwell and Boyhan, along with James Geoghegan, who helped me with the Bill. I commend my great friend, former Senator Imelda Henry. Her father is also a great friend of mine. I acknowledge the work she put into the Bill and thank her for it. It provided a basis for me to build upon. I thank the former Minister for Justice and Equality and current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Fitzgerald, who advocated the change put forward in the Bill to the Government. I am delighted to have the support of the Government in bringing the Bill through the Seanad. I thank the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, for ensuring that amendments were submitted in time to make certain that, along with pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises will be able to open on Good Friday once the Bill has been passed by the Dáil and signed by the President.

The passage of the Bill is another progressive step in Ireland's long journey towards separation between church and State. It is understandable that when lawmakers try to introduce legislation to change a practice that has been in place for almost 100 years, people pause to reflect upon that. However, that is what legislating is supposed to do and it is what I came to this House to effect. There is an affinity to the day of closure but in many cases it is leading to alcohol abuse. Government policy is to reduce binge drinking, which is an objective with which no Member would disagree. Cheap, low-cost alcohol needs to be removed from supermarkets and off-licences. Under existing legislation, an 18-year-old with €10 could buy 10 cans of beer on Holy Thursday to keep for the next day but could not meet friends in a pub on that day to drink two to three pints costing the same amount of money. Removing this 90-year-old provision from the Statute Book sends another clear message that Ireland is a pluralist, global and forward-thinking country.

The passage of the Bill also says something about the Upper House, which survived an attempt to abolish it in 2013.

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