Harney supports McDowell on cafe bar idea

Minister for Health Mary Harney is supporting the cafe bars scheme being promoted by her PD Cabinet colleague, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, despite it being the official policy of her department to oppose any additional outlets for alcohol consumption.

A Department of Health spokesman said the Minister was personally open to looking at innovative ways of changing the licensing laws.

Ms Harney did not see any conflict between changes in the licensing laws and steps to curb excessive consumption of alcohol.

The move comes as the Minister for Justice indicated that some form of liberalisation of the pub trade was now inevitable.

The Health Department spokesman said last night its policy was to oppose the opening of new alcohol outlets. He said the department's policy was in line with the findings of the Strategic Taskforce on Alcoholism.

In its report published last September, the taskforce recommended that there should be restrictions on any further increase in the physical availability of alcohol, including new outlets.

Mr McDowell has recently proposed a liberalisation of licensing laws which would allow for the emergence of cafe bars that could sell beer and spirits along with food.

The cafe bar proposals have been opposed by publicans and a number of Fianna Fáil backbenchers, led by chairman of the Oireachtas committee on health John Maloney.

Mr McDowell is to meet Fianna Fáil backbenchers about the proposals next Tuesday.

However, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said on Wednesday that the cafe bar proposals had been put forward only for discussion.

"What he [ the Minister for Justice] asked for when he published them was for people to discuss the issues and form their views on them and that is precisely what is happening," the Taoiseach said.

But Mr McDowell indicated following the Cabinet meeting in Cork on Wednesday that some liberalisation of the pub trade was now certain.

"When I launched the Bill, I said that it was part of a process," Mr McDowell said.

"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." He was going to take every step necessary to end binge drinking and increase the availability of food with alcohol.