The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, is to bring emergency legislation before the Dáil tomorrow to allow alcohol-free discos to take place in licensed premises.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said the Bill to amend the Intoxicating Liquor Acts would "put beyond doubt" legal issues surrounding the holding of such events.
The move follows the closure by gardaí of several alcohol-free discos last month under a section of the Acts which prohibits under-18s from licensed bar areas of pubs or clubs after 9 p.m.
Labour's justice spokesman Mr Joe Costello TD criticised the Minister for asking the Dáil to dig him "out of a hole of his making", just four weeks after assuring the public that there was no legal impediment to holding alcohol-free discos in pubs.
"I am not going to agree to any attempt to rush through or guillotine legislation. Given Minister McDowell's record, there is every chance that this Bill is also flawed," said Mr Costello.
Rejecting suggestions of a U-turn, however, the Minister's spokeswoman said Mr McDowell had previously said he would take steps to put the issue beyond doubt.
