Plans to reform Ireland’s pub and nightclub opening hours have been quietly abandoned, with the Intoxicating Liquor Bill noticeably absent from the government’s latest legislative agenda.
The proposal, which would have introduced late licensing laws and modernized Ireland’s nighttime economy, has been dropped from Chief Whip Mary Butler’s spring legislative program that outlines 21 priority bills for the coming months.
The decision represents a significant reversal on what had been promoted as an important modernization of Ireland’s licensing laws, which currently enforce relatively early closing times compared to many European countries.
According to The Irish Examiner, the bill’s removal from the priority list suggests that despite previous government commitments to reform the nighttime economy, other legislative matters have taken precedence in the current political climate.
The development will likely disappoint hospitality industry representatives who had advocated for extended opening hours as a way to boost business and bring Ireland’s nightlife more in line with continental European standards.