Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Helen McEntee)

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." 

The Bill I am proposing today is a short and relatively simple one, with a specific purpose in connection with licensed premises and certain private membership clubs. However, the importance of this Bill is much broader than that. The Covid-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to all of our society. The public health restrictions that have been in place since the outset of the pandemic have not been easy for anyone. The pandemic has impacted on all of our lives, in big ways and small. The vast majority of people and businesses in Ireland have complied with public health restrictions across the last six difficult months because they understand that doing so is the most sure way to keep us all safe and to help us to return as quickly as possible to the more open society that we have enjoyed but can no longer take for granted. My firm belief is that this Bill will help to bring us further on that road by encouraging the small minority of licensed premises which are acting contrary to public health regulations to bring themselves into compliance, and by providing An Garda Síochána with the powers to act swiftly to enforce the law, where necessary. The creation of these powers will further incentivise responsible licensees to ensure full compliance with the public health regulations…... 

[The bill discusses licensing of premises during the COVID-19 pandemic, with related discussions on alcohol. For the full debate, click on this link]