McDowell denies split with Ahern over bars
“I’ve kept the Taoiseach well briefed on my proposal. We’re at one on this issue. We know what we want to achieve and are determined to bring the community with us,” he said.
Mr Ahern has said the proposal remained one for discussion, was “not set in stone” and would come back to the Cabinet.
Mr McDowell, in the face of opposition from a large number of Fianna Fáil backbenchers, yesterday said he did not know where the “Fianna Fáil centre of gravity” lay on the issue.
But, he believed the majority of the Irish people were supporting him.
He said that over the next few days he would be starting a consultation process which would make it very clear that the old monopoly whereby beers and spirits could only be found in a pub would end.
Mr McDowell, who was in Killarney to launch a new financial system at the Justice Department of offices in the town, maintained many parents agreed with his view that young people should have different outlets to the pub for socialising.
“I’m optimistic we will arrive at some kind of accommodation,” he said.
He wanted to see a situation where young people could go out and have a beer and a pizza.
His aim was to curb binge drinking and to ensure that more places served beer and spirits along with food.
However, countrywide opposition among publicans to Mr McDowell’s proposal is growing and their organisations are claiming the country already has enough outlets selling alcohol.
Kerry Vintners’ Federation PRO Danny Leane yesterday said many pubs were providing customers with food and he did not believe the McDowell initiative was necessary.
“Ireland has a pub for every 360 people, whereas in England, Scotland and Wales the ratio is one pub for every 1,200 people,” Mr Leane, from Tralee, said.
Up to 40 TDs and senators are understood to have signed a motion against café bars.
Mr McDowell is due to discuss his proposal with the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Tuesday.
