Club owners protest over closing hours

Several hundred DJs and nightclub goers descended on the Dáil today to protest against Government plans to force them to close earlier.

For several hours, the Give us the Night campaign turned the street outside Leinster House into a dancefloor as they protested against proposals to end 3.30am closing times.

Spokesman Sunil Sharpe claimed nightclubs were being "scapegoated" for the problems around alcohol and public disorder: "The current system of 3.30 am closing has contributed to sequential closing between pubs, late bars and nightclubs. This has had a positive effect on the streets; there's been less public disorder and it's easier to get a taxi."

The Intoxicating Liquor Bill currently before the Oireachtas proposes to close a loophole which has allowed clubs to obtain theatre licences and remain open until 3.30am. Instead, they will have to close at 2.30am (1am on Sunday night).

Give us the Night, which is made up of DJs and music promoters, accepts that clubs cannot continue to avail of theatre licences but wants to see the introduction of a new nightclub-specific licence.

Nightclub owners were not involved in the protest but some watched from the wings. "It's the nanny state again," said Robbie Fox, owner of Renards, of the proposed change, and predicted it would seriously damage his business.

"We get about six hours a week to do my business; two hours each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This is taking away an hour each night, so we'll have three hours to do business. With 50 per cent of my business gone that will mean job losses and closing down some of the nights of the week."