Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a review is to be undertaken in respect of the licensing laws governing off-licences; if the proposal to segregate such premises from the general premises is to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40750/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 provides for the structural separation of alcohol from other goods in mixed trading premises, e.g. supermarkets and convenience stores. However, during the parliamentary discussions leading up to enactment of the legislation and in response to submissions from organisations representing the mixed trading sector, I gave an undertaking that if the objectives of structural separation could be achieved by means of a voluntary Code of Practice, and provided that implementation of any such Code would be subject to independent audit and verification, I would be prepared to defer implementation of section 9. However, if the process of independent audit and verification indicated that those objectives were not being achieved, I would have no hesitation in commencing section 9.

Details of a Code of Practice and its implementation have been the subject of consultations between the organisations representing the mixed trading sector and both my Department and the Department of Health and Children and I expect to be in a position to announce details of the Code and the arrangements for its implementation in the near future.