LAST UPDATE | 24 Jan 2023

RELAXATION OF PUB licencing rules could lead to an influx of chain bars into the Irish hospitality industry, TDs have been told.

Multiple organisations representing pubs and licenced premises said that they opposed the change of the extinguishment requirement for new pub licences, saying that it could lead to a “UK-style pub culture”.

Under current legislation, people seeking to open a pub must buy an existing pub licence from an established publican.

However, the proposed legislation will allow for anyone to purchase a licence.

In their opening statement to the Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee, the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) told TDs and Senators that they were opposed to the move.

“This deregulation could lead to increased competition from multi-national and international businesses and could be a threat to local and family businesses in every community,” MEAI said.

Donall O’Keeffe, the CEO of the Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) told the Committee that by removing the need to sell on an existing licence, Ireland could move towards a “UK-style pub culture” with the growth of chain pubs.

O’Keeffe also said that removing the extinguishment would only put more pubs into urban areas and would not prevent the decline of rural pubs.

“Any new licences sought will be in areas of higher demand – cities, provincial towns, tourist locations. Who wants more pubs in these areas?” O’Keeffe said

O’Keeffe also raised concerns over the potential impact to both public health and public order, saying that the extinguishment system exists to allow for regulatory control.

He also said that Ireland is currently “over-pubbed”, with 6,800 pub licences currently in circulation.

“Some 1,800 pubs have closed in Ireland since 2005, confirming a total over-supply of pubs and serious viability challenges.

“This combination of too many pubs, particularly in rural Ireland, together with falling demand, means that overall pub numbers will continue to fall, irrespective of any changes in the extinguishment requirement.”

Nightclub changes

While there is criticism of the changes to extinguishment, the industry has welcomed the proposed changes to trading hours for pubs, late bars and nightclubs.

In particular, the annual permit for both nightclubs and late bars has been welcomed by the LVA, saying that it is a “far better option”.

However, the Give Us the Night campaign has criticised the “exorbitant” licencing costs for both late bars and nightclubs, saying that venues should only be required to pay a yearly court administration fee.

The campaign group also called for a specific venue licence for nightclubs, seperate from a pub licence.

“We asked that dance venues be given a specific venue licence, instead a nightclub permit is proposed which keeps us tied directly to the pub licencing system. A club is not a pub and vice-versa.”

When asked by Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny about the potential insurance costs for nightclubs due to the extended opening hours, Give Us the Night spokesperson Sunil Sharpe said that they had not yet received information from insurers.