The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has left open the possibility of changing the licensing laws.
Mr O'Donoghue rejected a Labour private members' motion moved by its spokesman on justice, Dr Pat Upton, extending pub opening hours , but added: "I do not wish to give the House the impression I am against change in our liquor laws. Indeed, any body of laws as diverse and as pervasive as the licensing acts require updating from time to time."
Dr Upton's Bill, the Licensed Premises (Opening Hours) Bill, would extend opening hours to 12.30 a.m. throughout the year - with an additional half-hour drinking-up time - abolish Sunday closing between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., replace existing Sunday opening with weekday opening time and permit public houses and clubs to open on Good Friday. Mr O'Donoghue suggested that Dr Upton was "jumping the gun" somewhat, given the licensing laws were being reviewed by the sub-committee on security and legislation of the new select committee on justice, equality and women's rights.
He said that any recommendations made by the committee would be given the most serious consideration.
Introducing the Bill, Mr Upton said the nature and needs of Irish society had changed in the 10 years since the drinking regulations were last changed.
The Bill sought to rationalise the present practice by allowing for the courts to vary the time of closing in different areas in accord with the needs of the locality. It provided explicitly for the courts to be able to modify the hours of opening in accordance with the needs of the tourist industry and in relation to the special needs of areas which had a booming nightlife, such as the Temple Bar area of Dublin, he said.
The provisions allowed specifically for the residents in a residential area to petition the courts to restrict the hours in the event of customers behaving in a manner which constituted a significant nuisance for the neighbourhood.
Good Friday was still a very significant day in the religious life of many Irish people. However, for many people Good Friday was like any other bank holiday. The Bill provided that those who felt like a drink on that day should have the option of getting it.
Mr Upton said the Bill proposed to put the opening hours of pubs and registered clubs on the same footing. It also provided that heritage centres should be allowed to sell alcoholic drink.
Mr Charles Flanagan (FG) said his party was supporting a change in the laws relating to the licensed trade. He would not agree with the proposal to extend pub opening hours to Good Friday. The day was still special and important to many people.
There was agreement on most sides of the House that the question of trading hours of licensed premises were in need of reform to meet consumer demand. The reality was, the law was in disrepute. There was zero tolerance regarding pubs by gardai in some parts of the country and this did not apply in others.
The whole question of special exemptions had to be addressed. There were 65,000 applications a year and that was proof there was a need for change.
Fine Gael would support the Bill on the basis that it would be dealt with by the existing subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights.
The debate on the Bill continues tonight.