The Labour Party has called on the Government to support a Bill extending public house opening hours to ensure the law is changed before the summer. The party has a Bill before the Dail that would extend closing time to 12.30 a.m., end the distinction between summer and winter closing times and abolish the "holy hour" on Sundays.
"The Minister for Justice has refused to accept this Bill and is putting the issue on the long finger", according to the party's justice spokesman, Mr Pat Upton TD. Yet the Minister of State, Mr Frank Fahey, had said he hoped the law could be changed before the summer recess, Mr Upton said. "Minister Fahey's remarks seem to indicate that there is a serious difference of opinion on the matter inside Government," said Mr Upton. "Our current laws are outdated and do not serve the consumer. It is time that the Government stopped waffling on this issue and produced some concrete proposals," he said.