Government scraps plan to ban early house pubs

THE country’s 50 early-hours pubs will remain open after the Government scrapped plans to abolish them in a forthcoming overhaul of drinking laws.

But Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said no new licences will be handed out for early houses, which start serving at 7am.

This form of premises has existed since 1927, when licences were given out to cater for those attending early-morning markets or fairs, or whose jobs left them in need of a drink at unsocial hours.

There are 50 such premises around the country, including 15 in Dublin, three in Cork city and seven in the Killybegs fishing port in Donegal.

Their abolition was recommended in a report by the Alcohol Advisory Group last March and was contained in draft legislation published by the then Justice Minister Brian Lenihan.

The current minister told the Dáil that he is “now disposed” to allowing them to retain their early opening hours. He said the change of heart follows discussions with the Garda Commissioner and publican representative groups last week.

Mr Ahern said there was anecdotal evidence that early houses are being abused by problem drinkers.

“This exemption from normal licensing hours was mainly intended to cater for people travelling long distances to fairs and markets and to ensure that they could receive food and refreshment when they reached their destination.

“Also, sailors who had not been on shore for some time might obtain refreshment if their boat docked in the early hours of the morning,” said Mr Ahern.

“The advisory group considered that changes in our society rendered this type of arrangement redundant and recommended its abolition on the ground that it is now used mainly by late-night revellers on their way home and by problem drinkers,” he said.

Fine Gael’s Justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan welcomed the move.

“Legislation allowing for early houses may sound antiquated, referring to fairs and markets and it is true fairs and markets are no longer the feature of Irish cultural life they were, even in the Ceann Comhairle’s constituency.

“However, as the minister will have been told and as his officials will have researched in recent times, there remain many who work on night shifts and I contend this is most likely a demographic pattern which is growing rather than shrinking,” he said.

Mr Flanagan said: “To my knowledge those who operate early morning licences — and few enough of them exist throughout the state — have a strict policy in dealing with debs balls and the Trinity Ball in particular.

“I could not find much Garda evidence to suggest that late-night revellers cause difficulties in areas formerly used by people indulging in fair or market activity, be it in the inner city of Dublin or elsewhere. It was a concern and I am pleased the minister indicated his intention not to go there,” he said.