McDowell moderates pub ban on children

THE night-time ban on children in pubs is to begin an hour later during the summer months, the Minister for Justice announced yesterday.

In a climb-down revealed by the Irish Examiner a month ago, Michael McDowell told the Dáil the 9pm curfew would be extended to 10pm between the months of May and September.

But the move is unlikely to go far enough to appease hotel and pub owners who claim the ban has seriously damaged business by effectively barring families from their premises in the evenings.