Liquor recommendations 'could undermine equality laws'

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has warned that several recommendations made by the Government-appointed Commission on Liquor Licensing would undermine Ireland's equality laws.

In a submission to the Oireachtas committee on justice and equality, the ICCL said it was concerned mainly with recommendations relating to a publican's right to refuse admission and service to certain individuals.

The council said the Commission on Liquor Licensing was not an appropriate body to consider issues such as this, which were governed by equality legislation and a matter for the Equality Authority.

It said the Commission on Liquor Licensing recommendations would, if implemented, pave the way for the abolition of the Equality Tribunal and undermine the functioning of the Equality Authority.