The Opposition has criticised the speed with which the Government has pushed through legislation which will clarify the position with regard to alcohol-free events for under 18s.
The Intoxicating Liquor Bill (2004) is due to pass all stages in the Dáil and Seanad today.
It will, according to the Department of Justice, simply clarify advice recently given to the Garda by the minister, that teenagers may attend discos and other events on licensed premises once the bar remains closed and shuttered. The Bill will "put the matter beyond doubt", the department said.
Gardai had warned some licensed premises earlier this year that they risked prosecution if they held under-age discos on their premises, even if the bar was closed. However, Mr McDowell later informed the Garda Commissioner that the existing legislation did not prevent under 18s from attending such events.
Debating the guillotine on the short Bill in the Dail today, the Fine Gael leader asked what was the compelling reason for taking all the stages in one day.
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said the reason was for the Minister for Justice to put behind him as quickly as possible the fact that he had been wrong about the need for such a change.
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said the minister needed to look at the issue "more comprehensively". He asked that he "step back a bit" to allow the debate to take place and to assess the complex nature of the issue.
Sinn Fein TD Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain said that while the Bill was short, it nevertheless failed to address many of the other urgent changes that were required to licensing laws.
The Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen said that simply, the purpose of the Bill was to provide a clear statutory basis for holding alcohol-free events. It would provide certainty for voluntary bodies who organise such events and for the licencees on whose premises they are held, he said. It would clear up any uncertainty that may arise or that has arisen.
Mr Cowen said the consolidated Bill, a "very large" piece of legislation, would be brought before the Dail after it had been brought to Cabinet and that there would be plenty of time to discuss all its ramifications.