DRINKS body Hospitality Ulster has welcomed comments from Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey that she is ready to ‘push the button’ on licensing reform in the north.
The Sinn Féin minister revealed that her department is actively mulling over 1,500 responses to the latest consultation on licensing reform, which closed on December 6.
The north’s drinks sector has long labelled the current licensing legislation as archaic. Easter opening hours in particular have been a bugbear for pubs around the north.
Prior to the collapse of Stormont in 2017, the Department for Communities, and its predecessor the Department for Social Development had been headed by DUP ministers since 2011.
Ms Hargey said she will move on the issue “urgently”, hinting that there could be some legislative movement by Easter, which falls on April 12.
“I think everyone recognises that we need a fresh look at this, things do need to change,” she told the BBC.
“There’s a commitment within the New Decade, New Approach deal to do that.
“As the minister responsible, I’m keen to engage with the sector and indeed with those responding and move forward as soon as possible.”
Hospitality Ulster’s chief executive Colin Neill said it is now more important than ever for the reformed Executive to move on licensing reform.
He said the leaders of the five main parties have already responded to the drinks body, each committing to reform.
“The hospitality industry is currently working in an anti-business environment and is continually facing rising costs with the highest business rates in the UK, the second highest rate of hospitality VAT in Europe and ever increasing wage bills. This is simply unsustainable.
“These essential reforms will have a positive impact on opening times during key holiday periods, such as Easter, giving businesses in the sector the tools to run profitably and to allow them to add further to the economy.
“Modernisation of our outdated liquor licensing legislation is long overdue, and it must be addressed as an urgent priority.”
