367. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the status of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; when she expects to publish the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: Following extensive consultation with representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies, consumers and communities, the General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill was published on 25 October 2022. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice conducted two pre-legislative scrutiny sessions on the draft legislation, and the Committee’s report was published on 2 March 2023.

While work on this Bill is progressing, it is my intention to bring forward, in the coming months, a shorter Bill to provide for key reforms including the standardisation of opening hours for pubs and off-licences. It will also introduce an annual late bar and nightclub permits as well as cultural amenity licences.

This legislation marks the Government’s commitment to the reform of licensing laws to support and stimulate the night time economy. The shorter bill will also provide for new grounds of objection in line with the Zero Tolerance Third National Strategy to Tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence and provide that licensing applications, which are currently heard in the Circuit Court, would be moved to the District Court.

There are plans to bring a future Sale of Alcohol Bill which will consolidate, streamline and modernise our current licensing system.