Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 377: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures for a person to obtain a licence for a fully licensed off-licence; his plans to have a lottery licence system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14465/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Applications for the grant of off-licences must be made to the District Court. Detailed provisions relating to application procedures and the conditions to be satisfied are set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2003.

In its interim report on off-licensing the Commission on Liquor Licensing recommended significant changes in the law regulating access to off-licences. In particular, the commission recommended that it should no longer be necessary for an applicant for a full off-licence to cause an existing licence to be extinguished but that a meaningful fee should be payable by an applicant instead. I intend to address the commission's recommendations for reforming licensing law, including those relating to off-licences, in a Bill to codify the licensing laws which I will bring forward in the coming months.