The newly-elected head of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) yesterday expressed his opposition to Good Friday opening saying, "it is one of the few days we give to Christ and yet we call ourselves a Christian nation".
Paul Stevenson, president of the federation which represents over 5,500 pubs outside Dublin, said he held dear Good Friday and Christmas Day and did not think there should be any compromise on that.
Mr Stevenson was speaking as delegates attending the federation's agm in Sligo voted overwhelmingly against a motion from the Limerick branch urging the law be changed to make Good Friday a normal trading day.
The VFI president, owner of Fawlty Towers pub in Ballymote, Co Sligo, said he appreciated that this was now a multicultural society and people could buy anything from clothes to lollipops on Good Friday but "if you believe in the risen Christ, it cannot be an a la carte belief".
He said that on a recent visit to Dubai his son was unable to get something to eat during Ramadan and this was entirely proper as it reflected the beliefs in that society.
Mr Stevenson also called for a meeting with Gay Byrne, chairman of the Road Safety Authority, to discuss road deaths. But as members voted to launch a year-round designated driver programme, the VFI said that 60 per cent of fatal road accidents were due to speeding, poor quality roads and bad driving, rather than alcohol.
Mr Stevenson said that if he was responsible for saving one life during his two-year term, it would make it worthwhile.
However, he insisted that the pub was "the safest place in which to drink" and said that as lifestyles change more people were drinking at home, creating new risks.
"I recently went to a house where there was a bottle of spirits in the press beside the sugar," he said, adding that this was putting temptation in front of young people.
One of the issues he hoped to discuss with Mr Byrne was the need for Government to fund an adequate transport system in rural areas where "there is no Luas and no Dart and often no bus, especially at night".
Outgoing VFI president Séamus O'Donoghue said European visitors were astounded by the cost of drink here.
