Plan to give local authorities power to control pub hours

LOCAL authorities will be given the power to control pub opening hours under proposals being drawn up by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

The minister says communities should be able to have a say in determining how late drink is served depending on the needs of the area.

The new powers, which the minister is seeking to bring before the Cabinet, could be used to curb public order offences, or allow publicans meet greater demand in popular tourist spots. A spokesman confirmed the minister was examining such a move, but said no firm decision had been made yet.

"A lot of communities say they feel powerless and this is one option that's being examined. The question is do we really need the same closing time in Temple Bar as in a country pub," a spokesman asked. The proposal, however, has been criticised by Fine Gael justice spokesman John Deasy, who said different closing times would lead to an increase in drink driving.

"This is crazy stuff it's naive and silly. Can you imagine the situation around county borders where drink is being served later? It can only exacerbate the drink driving culture," Mr Deasy said. He said it was widely acknowledged that extended closing hours had contributed to street violence and that a further loosening of the licensing laws would make matters worse. Since July 2000, pubs close at 12.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11pm on Sunday, and at 11.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A lot of the concerns about public disorder have focused on the later opening hours of night clubs, and new tough public order measures are currently before the Dáil.

Mr McDowell is to examine the possibility of local authorities' controlling pub opening and closing hours once a government-commissioned

review of drinking laws is completed shortly. The Commission on Liquor Licensing, chaired by solicitor Gordon Holmes, has set up a special hours of trading sub-committee.

This group includes Séamus Carroll of the Justice Department; John Douglas of barworkers' union Mandate; Frank Fell of Dublin publicans' organisation LVA, and Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley. The final report is due in by the end of March.