The Minister for Tourism has indicated that he will support the relaxation of a ban on children in bars after 9 p.m., according to tourism industry sources in Co Kerry. Anne Lucey and Carl O'Brien report.
A spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue confirmed yesterday the Minister had received and relayed the concerns of vintners, hoteliers and members of the public on the impact of the ban to the Minister for Justice, 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," a spokesman for the Minister said.
The issue emerged yesterday after hoteliers in Kerry revealed they had been having "a number" of discussions with Mr O'Donoghue to see if the law can be changed to allow children in bars after 9 p.m.
Tourism industry sources in the region say the Minister has indicated that he is sympathetic to a relaxation in the law.
However, a spokesman for Mr McDowell yesterday insisted there were no plans to drop the 9 p.m. ban for children. The Minister for Justice had received communications from Mr O'Donoghue, but said the legislation, aimed primarily at curbing public order offences, was working well.
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act (2003), which came into force towards the end of the tourist season last year, persons under 18 may not be in a licensed premises unless attending a private function at which a substantial meal is served.
As well as the hospitality industry, Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann has voiced concern over the impact of the legislation.
Comhaltas's director general, Mr Labhras Ó Murchú, said yesterday that the ban on children was causing problems in family-oriented traditional music gatherings.
A change for settings of this kind would be welcomed, Mr Ó Murchú said
The full impact of the ban is beginning to hit for the first time as the tourism industry gets under way, according to hoteliers in Dingle and Waterville on the Ring of Kerry.
"The danger is children are being left outside with nobody supervising them," Mr Fionnbar Walsh, manager of the Smerwick Harbour Hotel near Dingle said.