Fianna Fáil TDs supporting publicans' opposition to proposed cafe bars have been warned by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that pub trade liberalisation is inevitable, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, in Cork.
Michael McDowell's tough stand - taken after yesterday's Cabinet meeting in Cork - threatens conflict with Fianna Fáil TDs next week when he meets them to discuss his plans.
Clearly wishing to avoid prejudging the outcome of next week's meeting, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern emphasised that the Minister's preference for small cafe bars selling beer and spirits along with food were only proposals.
"All of the Minister's proposals are proposals for discussions," said Mr Ahern, when he faced journalists' questions in the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork.
"What he asked for when he published them was for people to discuss these issues and form their views on them and that is precisely what is happening," he added.
Mr Ahern's tone contrasts starkly with his much tougher support for Mr McDowell's plan to introduce antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) to deal with young offenders, which are equally disliked by a smaller number of Fianna Fáil TDs.
Fianna Fáil TDs - led by Laois/Offaly TD Seán Maloney, who is also a publican - have reacted angrily to the Minister's cafe bar proposals, following major lobbying by publicans in their constituencies.
"My party has asked for an opportunity to be able to give their views and the Minister has kindly agreed to do that," said Mr Ahern. "It is not set in stone and it was never said that it was set in stone and it is not the only reform in the whole reform package," he continued.
Next week's meeting between Mr McDowell and Fianna Fáil TDs concerned about the issue would give his parliamentary party colleagues a chance "to stress their views.
"There is a lot of concern about cafe bars. Members have voiced that," said Mr Ahern.
Though Mr McDowell acknowledged the cafe bars idea was only a proposal at this stage, it is clear he has been irritated by the reaction of some of his Fianna Fáil colleagues.
"When I launched the Bill, I said it was part of a consultation process. The heads of the Bill were published, which I am obviously determined to discuss with everyone. But what I do want to make clear is that there is going to be liberalisation of beer and spirit [licensing], in conjunction with [serving] food, one way or the other."
The current draft of the licensing legislation reform keeps the current rule whereby new pubs can only be opened when the licence of another one is bought and extinguished.
"People should remember, particularly the publicans' lobby," said Mr McDowell, "that the architecture of the proposals now on the table is that the one-for-one extinguishment of licences would continue. That mightn't be there and the logic for that might disappear if cafe bars disappeared. They will have to do some hard thinking on their part if they want to come up with an alternative arrangement," he warned.
Emphasising that he did not want to "have rows" with Fianna Fáil TDs on the issue, he said: "I am certainly going to take every step that is necessary to end binge drinking and to increase the availability of beer and spirits with food. There are different ways to skin a cat. I am saying most emphatically that."
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said he was "surprised" at the opposition expressed by some Fianna Fáil TDs to the antisocial orders the Minister has proposed.