FG: McDowell licensing plans far from radical

Michael McDowell’s claims that his plan to deregulate restaurant licensing is radical are "ridiculous", Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe said today.

Mr O’Keeffe welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon the café-bar plan but said he would still be pushing for a national alcohol strategy and resources for gardaí to enforce existing laws.

Mr McDowell is today addressing the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on the deregulation measures which should allow restaurants to serve a wider range of alcoholic drinks on their premises.

The Progressive Democrat TD denied his decision to scrap Continental-style café-bars was prompted by fierce opposition by publicans and Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

Mr O'Keeffe said: “My initial reaction to the deregulation is it’s no big deal, it seems to be reasonable enough, why shouldn’t they be able to give you a gin and tonic with your meal? But his suggestion that he is being radical is ridiculous.”

Mr O’Keeffe said the Law Reform Minister had failed to mention the deregulation proposal had come from publicans themselves.

Today Mr O’Keeffe said he would be using the private members Dáil debate on café-bars scheduled for tonight to discuss the specifics of the new proposal.

The Fine Gael TD will also be addressing the issue of a national alcohol strategy and the provision of resources for the Garda in relation to enforcement of licensing laws and public order.

“I welcome the cave-in in relation to café-bars, as my view is the country is awash with drink,” he said.

“I looked at the research, talked to a lot of people, and it seemed to me introducing more bars is exactly what we don’t want.”

Fine Gael had tabled a private Dáil motion calling on the Government to drop the café-bar plans while up to 43 Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators signed up to an internal party motion against the proposals.