New pub & nightclub late closing times ‘up in air’ amid ‘no bottle’ axe fears

A TOP DJ has accused Fine Gael of not having “the backbone or bottle” to push ahead with laws that will let nightclubs open until 6am.

And publican associations fear it’s the last call for dramatic changes to our licensing laws and worry they’ll be axed if not passed in the coming months.

Two years ago, the Cabinet signed off on a draft of the Sale of Alcohol Bill that would let pubs stay open until 12.30am seven nights a week.

It also allows late bars to open until 2.30am, while nightclubs can serve alcohol until 5am and stay open until 6am.

But despite repeated vows from Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Culture Minister ­Catherine Martin and former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the laws have not been passed.

In a joint statement, the Licensed Vintners Association and Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said the legislation only requires “Government’s willingness to publish”.

They added: “Taking into account the timeframes remaining in this Oireachtas, we are concerned that failure to publish in the very near future will see the effective death of this legislation through inaction, meaning the Government will effectively be scrapping their own policies.”

Leading Irish DJ Sunil Sharpe – who was part of a Government taskforce on nightlife – claims that the Department of Justice have now pulled back from engaging with stakeholders as they move away from the proposed changes.

He told the Irish Sun: “The fact that they didn’t happen in 2022 was concerning to us then another year passed with 2023 and again we continued to be concerned as to why it was taking so long – especially considering the Government were planning to size it down into two bills.

“As far as we were led to believe the first part of those two should have been enacted by summer last year but now we’re approaching another Dail summer recess and if anything the Justice Department now have gone quieter than they ever have been on the discussions on licensing reforms.

“That’s now becoming more concerning for us because as we edge closer to a general election and particularly with Simon Harris having taken over from Leo Varadkar, it seems like the appetite within Fine Gael particularly to change these laws now seems to be up in the air.”

The co-founder of the Give Us The Night group fears that new Taoiseach Simon Harris is delaying the issue due to pressure from older, more conservative members of his party ahead of elections.

Sunil said: “It does appear that Fine Gael don’t have the backbone or the bottle to actually change these laws as quickly as they need to and to stand behind what appeared to be a strong new policy on licensing – that to us is disappointing.

“I would be confident that if they are not willing to do it that another Government that doesn’t include Fine Gael would be.

“Fine Gael have got the ball rolling on this reform but now as we get closer to a general election some of the older outgoing public representatives within their party have started to publicly declare their displeasure for this bill.

“It appears now that some of the younger and senior members of Fine Gael including the Taoiseach are now almost on a puppet string in the run up to elections by older members of the party who are naturally more conservative.”

Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan told the Irish Sun that he has been pressing within his party for the late opening hours for nightclubs to be dropped.

‘NO DEMAND’

He has raised concerns about the impact that “all night drinking” would have on our health service, transport system and on gardai and their working hours.

The senior Fine Gael TD told the Irish Sun: “There is no demand for it. I’m on the streets campaigning for the European and local elections and this is not an issue that has been raised with me on the doorsteps.

“There’s no demand for all night drinking.

“In the event that the Government decides to proceed along the lines that were proposed – I have concerns.”

He believes that a public health assessment and a transport assessment should be carried out on the legislation before it goes any further – which would again delay the bill.

Asked if he thinks the changes of our licensing laws will go ahead before a general election, he said: “I don’t know when the Taoiseach will call an election but I would be very anxious that there would be a lot of homework done before we have all night drinking.

“I don’t know what the Government plans are to be honest but I believe it would be folly for the government to proceed without the public health impact and the transport impact and the garda impact.

“As a former Minister for Justice, my advice is handle with care. Alcohol is a controlled substance and I don’t think we’re ready for a free for all.”

LEGISLATION ‘STILL NEEDED’

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told the Irish Sun that he expects the licensing laws to go ahead before the next general election.

Asked if the Government have abandoned the changes, the Transport Minister said: “No and I do think we need a night time economy.

“Dublin, my own city, needs to have a really vibrant cultural life at night and I think that does require modernisation of our licensing laws and the ability for young people to get out, dance, socialise and have a good time.

“As well, I think it brings better benefits in terms of policing – not everyone leaving at the one time. I think the legislation is still needed.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: “The terms of this Bill are currently being finalised and the Minister hopes to publish it in the coming months.

“Whilst scheduling is a matter for the Oireachtas, it is hoped that the Bill will be enacted this year.”