Children in pubs - Extending time limit makes sense

IN what promises to be a relatively minor, but reasonable concession to the tourism industry, Justice Minister Michael McDowell is actively considering extending to 10pm the ban on children in pubs after 9pm.

This new deadline, likely to come into effect next summer, will apply solely to June, July and August. For the remainder of the year, the 9pm ban will stay put.

From the very outset the curfew has been contentious, especially among publicans and hoteliers, who claim it has hit their business badly and want it scrapped.

Even Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue has been openly critical of the ban and wants the controversial law changed. Doubtless, he is looking over both shoulders at the voters in Kerry for whom tourism is a significant money spinner.

It is fair to say most people do not like the presence of children in pubs. Apart from the nuisance factor, it exposes very young children to alcohol and can lead to underage drinking, a problem which, according to Mr McDowell, publicans were not addressing.

Generally speaking, greater tolerance is shown in seaside resorts, especially on summer evenings when daylight lasts long after 10pm. While the concerns of publicans are motivated mainly by the aim of boosting profits, it was unreasonable to expect families on holiday to leave the pub at 9pm.

Some cynics regard the ban as another symptom of Ireland’s gradual drift, under the right-wing policies of a Fianna Fáil-PD coalition, towards the nanny-state, a benign form of the Orwellian idea of the state as Big Brother, controlling every facet of people’s lives.

A classic, albeit positive, illustration of this kind of thinking is the ban on smoking in the workplace. Though it is the epitome of state intervention in the lives of citizens, it was introduced for the common good and has been widely welcomed.

But yet another example of the nanny syndrome is found in legislation framed by Mr McDowell, who intends to prosecute any garda found leaking information to the media. Despite his denials, this is seen as a personal reaction to press reports of an assault on his son.

Another nanny-like proposal from Mr McDowell would lead to publicans who serve inebriated customers being prosecuted.

In the eyes of angry publicans and hoteliers, these Draconian measures are the malign ingredients of a witch’s brew.

Be that as it may, the Government’s drift to the right is a cause of concern among Fianna Fáil backbenchers and will loom large at today’s meeting of the party in West Cork.

Deputies will no doubt be relieved to learn of the 10pm proposal and also that plans to stage a protest at the meeting have been cancelled by publicans.