Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, one of the four Independent TDs on whom the last government relied for support, yesterday said it was "late in the day, in the middle of the tourist season" for his constituency colleague, Tourism Minister Mr O'Donoghue, to look for a relaxation of the 9 p.m. ban on children in pubs. Anne Lucey reports.
A lot of damage had already been done to the tourism industry and to traditional entertainment provided by families in the Minister's own constituency, he said.
Neither Mr O'Donoghue, his constituency colleague in South Kerry, nor the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, had shown any willingness to support a change in the ban when he raised the issue in the Dáil as far back as last March in advance of the tourist season, Mr Healy-Rae said.
It was only because Fianna Fáil "got a roasting" on the doorsteps and at the polls over the ban on children and the smoking ban that they said they would do something about the unpopular measure of the ban on children, he said.
Mr Healy-Rae also indicated he would be reluctant to support the current Fianna Fáil Government in the case of a split with the PDs . "They have gone so far overboard, I don't know if there's any way back (for them)," he said.
It would be "difficult" he believed, to persuade Independents.
The previous government, with support from himself, Ms Mildred Fox, Mr Tom Gildea and Mr Harry Blaney had been successful and was "a good government" because it had listened to the sensible, "grassroots" opinion of the four Independents.
This time just three Independents would be enough, but the Government seemed no longer willing to listen to ordinary people. Mr McDowell's "arrogance knows no bounds", he said.
The 9 p.m. ban also had a severe effect on step-dancing children and musical families who entertained tourists in pubs. Many now found themselves out of the kind of work they had done for many years. Mr Healy-Rae said Mr O'Donoghue should have been aware of the full effects of the 9 p.m. ban, especially as it hit the industry in South Kerry.
He said he had spoken to Mr O'Donoghue about the problem with step-dancers and singers in the constituency and the Tourism Minister had "let it in one ear and out the other".
"I am flabbergasted he has waited until now and the massive havoc that's done in hotels especially, and the tourist season generally. Now is no time to go addressing it - half the tourist season is over."
A spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue on Monday confirmed the Minister had "relayed" the concerns of vintners, hoteliers and members of the public "regarding the impact of the legislation" to Mr McDowell.
"Mr O'Donoghue will be discussing this issue further with Minister McDowell shortly and in the context of the review of the intoxicating liquor legislation," the spokesman said.
However, a spokesman for Mr McDowell dismissed any plans to change the legislation. The Minister had received communications from Mr O'Donoghue but had "no intention" of changing the legislation which was working "quite well", he said.