McDowell 'bows to publicans' on café bars

THE Government was last night accused of giving into publicans in the new "compromise" deal on café bars to be unveiled by Justice Minister Michael McDowell in the Dáil on Tuesday night.

Mr McDowell originally proposed creating new café bar licences that could be bought in the District Court for €5,000 by people who wanted to sell food and alcohol together.

This met with major opposition from the vintners, Fianna Fáil backbenchers and health professional who called for the plan to be scrapped on health grounds.