The Licensed Vintners Association and Vintners Federation of Ireland has voiced concern about Government legislation aimed at reforming licensing laws which has been delayed, raising concerns that it may be scrapped.
The proposed reforms in the legislation include standardisation of opening hours, introduction of annual late bar and nightclub permits, new grounds of objection related to violence, and strengthening Garda powers.
The LVA and VFI support the measures in the legislation and emphasise the importance of modernising the licensing regime for the pub sector to thrive.
Proponents say that, despite misunderstandings, the proposed nightclub permit is not intended to allow all pubs to be open all night. The two industry bodies support the regulations and stress the need for long-overdue reform to enhance the night-time economy.
Donall O’Keeffe, CEO of the LVA and Pat Crotty, CEO of the VFI, said in a written statement: “we understand this legislation is close to finalisation, all that is missing is the Government’s willingness to publish. Taking into account the timeframes remaining in this Oireachtas, we are concerned that failure to publish in the very near future will see the effective death of this legislation through inaction, meaning the Government will effectively be scrapping their own policies. Given the long-promised measures in this legislation aimed at assisting the pub sector, the Government cannot allow this to happen.”
