Fianna Fáil backbenchers are to express deep hostility to Michael McDowell's proposals for new cafe-bar licences at two party meetings next week, with some attacking not just the proposal but also the Minister for Justice himself.
Mr McDowell has agreed to speak to a meeting of Fianna Fáil's backbench justice committee on Wednesday week to hear TDs' and Senators' concerns over the proposed cafe-bar licences. However, the previous day, a group of backbenchers will seek to have the entire parliamentary party vote on a motion criticising the concept. The motion has been signed by some 40 TDs and Senators.
According to one of the sponsors of the motion, John McGuinness TD, people are "fed up of Michael McDowell making pronouncements about everything. We are over-regulated. There needs to be a statement of Fianna Fáil policy on issues like this."
He said issues such as cafe-bar licences and proposed anti-social behaviour orders were not in the Programme for Government, but were put out for public discussion as Government proposals without any debate in the Dáil or consultation with Fianna Fáil. The concern in Fianna Fáil was not just about the specific issues, he went on, but "the manner in which Mr McDowell presents himself".
He said he believed this was the outlook of the majority of Fianna Fáil backbenchers.
Mr McDowell's plan for small cafe-style bars, which would be obliged to sell food of a certain quantity and quality, is seen by publicans as a threat to their businesses.
The chairman of the Fianna Fáil justice committee, Barry Andrews TD, said yesterday that many members felt "publicans have taken enough punishment".
He said some TDs and Senators were also objecting on health grounds, arguing that increasing the number of outlets selling alcohol would increase alcohol consumption.
Mr McDowell has argued that cafe-bars would help change Ireland's drinking culture, making drinking alcohol a more sociable activity and reducing the amount of binge drinking.
The decision to put down the motion criticising the idea arose from a meeting last week of Fianna Fáil's justice committee.
Mr McDowell had been invited to address the committee but did not do so because he had to be present for the committee stage of the Garda Bill.
According to Mr McGuinness, everybody who spoke on the issue at the Fianna Fáil justice committee meeting was opposed to the cafe-bar licence proposal.
Mr McGuinness and his party colleague John Moloney TD then decided to put down the motion for the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting tomorrow week.
The committee also asked the Minister of State at the Department of Justice Brian Lenihan and the chair of the committee Barry Andrews TD to tell the Government of the party's concerns.
Mr Andrews said Mr McDowell has accepted an invitation to meet the backbench committee on Wednesday week - the day after the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meets - to discuss the issue.
He said yesterday that he believed the Minister should be heard before the party voted on the motion.
"The correct way would be to defer the motion," Mr Andrews said.
However, Mr McGuinness insisted yesterday that he would press ahead with his motion tomorrow week, and he believed he had the support of his colleagues on this.
"Michael McDowell has had his say. He has put his position out into the public domain. This motion is for Fianna Fáil to have our say."
Mr McGuinness said he would welcome Mr McDowell's attendance at the Fianna Fáil committee meeting.
"I will listen to Michael McDowell. But Fianna Fáil must not be put off its course of establishing its view."