The blanket ban on Travellers being served by publicans in Westport, Co Mayo, was lifted yesterday afternoon.
Mr Chris Lavelle, chairman of the local branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, was the sole signatory of a statement: "Members of the Westport branch of the VFI have agreed today to lift their ban on serving members of the Travelling community. This decision has been taken following the recent meeting with the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Dea, who has asked the chairman of the commission on liquor licensing to prioritise deliberations in the issues relating to the rights of licence holders to refuse admission and service."
Mr Lavelle told The Irish Times last night he did not wish to comment on the statement. "I feel the matter is sub-judice, since I will be appearing in court next week." Mr Lavelle's application for the renewal of his licence has been challenged by Mayo Traveller Support Group. The support group has objected to the renewal of the licence of Lavelle's Bar, Bridge Street, in response to the continuing ban on Travellers by the proprietor. The ban arose from alleged incidents involving Travellers in July.
"We welcome the lifting of the ban. We believe that the commitments made at the meetings with Minister Willie O'Dea last month were fair and marked a reasonable way forward for both sides of the dispute," said Mr Gearóid Ó Riain, spokesman for the support group. "We are glad that the VFI are committing themselves to this process as are the Travellers groups. The way forward is not by using blanket bans or discrimination, it is about acknowledging a new legal context and engaging with the Equality Authority to develop codes of practice to manage these issues."
Mr Ó Riain said the group would be seeking reassurance at the court hearing.