595. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the recommendations of an organisation (details supplied) with regard to the open consultation on the review of alcohol licensing in Ireland; the status of the consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4351/22] 

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: The Programme for Government commits to ‘modernising our licensing laws and application processes’ and my Justice Plan 2021 committed to reviewing and modernising alcohol licensing. In addition, the issue of outdated alcohol licensing legislation was a key challenge identified by stakeholders in the published report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce. 

I intend to modernise alcohol licensing laws through the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill. The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018 and the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008 and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century. It is also the intention to repeal the Public Dance Hall Act 1935. 

I am very conscious of public concerns in relation to alcohol-related harm in our society, and the Bill is being developed in a way that takes account of those concerns regarding health, as well as the interests of consumers, communities and businesses. 

With this in mind, on 25 November 2021, I launched a public consultation to seek the views of the public on the modernisation of Ireland’s licencing laws. The consultation, which ran until 21 January 2022, looked at how best to update the existing laws governing the sale and regulation of alcohol in Ireland. Members of the public, academics, sectoral groups and representative organisations were invited to complete an online survey and/or make a written submission to my Department. There was a sizeable response to the consultation and I would like to thank all of those who engaged with this process. My Department is now reviewing the responses received to inform the further development of the Bill.