McDowell under fire after trenchant café bar defence

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s trenchant defence of his café bar proposals was roundly criticised yesterday by fellow Government TDs and by organisations opposed to their introduction.

Prominent Fianna Fáil backbencher, John Maloney, yesterday said he was surprised and slightly baffled by Mr McDowell’s threat of ending the one-for-one pub licence extinguishment - which limits the number of pubs - if his café bar proposals did not proceed.

The Minister is due to discuss this controversial aspect of new liquor licensing legislation with the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Tuesday.