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07/03/2005
Joint bid to keep off-licences shut until 6pm on March 17
DUBLIN Lord Mayor, Michael Conaghan, and Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, will today make a joint bid to prevent a repeat of teenage drunkenness and street fights which marred last year's St Patrick's Day celebrations.
They are appealing for all off-licences in the capital to remain closed until 6pm on St Patrick's Day.
With just 10 days to the national holiday, Mr Conaghan and Mr McDowell will make the request when they meet senior officials from the Licensed Vintners' Federation and the National Off-Licence Association.
At the meeting with Jim McCabe, Vice Chairman, National Off-Licence Association and Donall O'Keeffe, Chief Executive, Licensed Vintners' Association, they are to impress the absolute need for strict adherence to the Intoxicating Liquor Acts and regulations regarding sales of alcohol during the entire St Patrick's Festival week.
Publicans will be asked to be vigilant and make sure alcohol is not sold to minors or those who are drunk, he said yesterday.
Lord Mayor Conaghan said he wants the "menace and unpleasantness" of last year not to be repeated.
And he added that Dublin City Council will be developing a policy in relation to applications for exemptions regarding licensing hours for pubs.
The city will be on show with over 1m people attending the Festival week, including 250,000 visitors from abroad. Family fun should be the core of the weeks Festival, said the Lord Mayor.
A spokesman for the justice minister said he will also be urging vintners to exercise responsibility when selling alcohol. "The minister agrees with the lord mayor that excessive consumption of alcohol can detract from enjoyment of the day's events," she added.
Irish Independent
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