The Licensed Vinters Association today claimed that the general public does not understand why legislation to permit licensed trading on Good Friday has not yet been introduced.
Furthermore, it claims that the current law amounts to discrimination against the licensed trade and made no financial sense.
The Chief Executive of the LVA, Donall O’Keeffe said, “The Government has indicated that Good Friday trading will be considered in the context of the sale of alcohol bill. A full decade has passed since this bill was first proposed and the Good Friday issue is still not resolved. It’s ludicrous that every other business is permitted to trade normally, yet on one of the busiest holiday periods of the year publicans are denied that right.
The current situation means the entire hospitality sector loses out through being closed,12,000 employees lose out through lost earnings and the exchequer loses out in terms of lost excise and VAT.
It’s estimated up to a quarter of a million people will pass through Dublin Airport this weekend and many of them will be visitors or Irish people returning to see their families. A visit to a pub is often amongst the highlights of their trip, but once again they will be faced with locked doors on Friday.”
He further added, "The Ireland 2016 celebrations will have a particular focus on Easter 2016 and it would be hugely embarrassing if this law was still in place for such an important event.
It’s a terrific opportunity to showcase our capital city and it would be ridiculous if the entire hospitality sector was again forced to close on Good Friday. If we want to see ourselves as a modern European republic, we need to have the laws of a modern European republic."
For more visit: www.businessworld.ie