Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will introduce a special low-cost licence for minor alcoholic sales, such as organic stores that sell small quantities of organic wine, as meeting the full wine sales criteria is highly expensive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19004/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Licensing Acts 1833 to 2010, together with the Finance (1909-10) Act 1910, provide the regulatory framework for liquor licences, including the licences relevant to the sale of wine. Under these provisions, wine can be sold for personal consumption only by a person who holds a publican's licence, a wine retailer's on-licence, a special restaurant licence, or a wine retailer's off-licence. At present, the Revenue Commissioners do not have the authority under the licencing laws to issue any other form of licence.

Accordingly, any provision for a special licence of the sort described by the Deputy would require, in the first instance, amendments to the Licencing Acts which are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality.

That being said, even if such a special licence were introduced I would have concerns about the enforcement of a charge of a duty of excise for such a licence. For example, if the described special licence was linked to sale of a restricted quantity or type of alcohol product there would be significant enforcement costs associated with monitoring of the sales of premises with such a special licence.