Northern Ireland

Republic's plans to scrap Good Friday alcohol ban will 'leave north behind'

The Irish government is planning to scrap the alcohol ban on Good Friday. Picture by Johnny Green, Press Association
The Irish government is planning to scrap the alcohol ban on Good Friday. Picture by Johnny Green, Press Association The Irish government is planning to scrap the alcohol ban on Good Friday. Picture by Johnny Green, Press Association

THE Irish government's plans to scrap the 90-year-old ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday will leave the north "lagging behind", Hospitality Ulster has claimed.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald is expected to say she will not oppose a Bill calling for the restriction to be abolished when it comes before the Seanad this week.

Any change is likely to be incorporated into the government's own Bill and will be introduced in time for next Easter.

Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said the Northern Ireland will lose out once the change is introduced.

"With their progressive licensing laws that offer customers what they want and a Tourism VAT rate of nine per cent it’s Northern Ireland that will lose out, and that’s a fact. You only need to visit Carlingford this Easter and watch the buses arriving from the north to see just how much we lose every Easter," he said.

"We totally respect that Easter is an important period for many in Northern Ireland. But having a glass of wine with your lunch or a social pint of beer with your friends and family in a bar or restaurant is not disrespectful, nor does it take away from the importance of Easter.

"Allowing pubs and restaurants to sell alcohol over Easter is not about religion, if it were they would ban supermarkets selling alcohol at 8am on Good Friday morning. And does anyone really think less alcohol will be consumed? People just bulk buy in advance and drink at home, consuming more alcohol than they would over a normal weekend."

Mr Neill claimed that restricted sales over Easter costs the hospitality industry £16 million.

He said a Bill in the assembly to amend the north's licensing legislation fell when power-sharing collapsed in January.

"We don’t do politics, but this is another clear example of how no devolved government is impacting our economy and I would appeal to our elected representatives to find a way to re-establish the NI Assembly and implement a Bill that will make real changes to our licensing laws," he said.

The Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017 from senators Billy Lawless, Victor Boyhan, Michael McDowell and Gerard Craughwell will come before the Seanad on Wednesday.

The Irish government is expected to take the Bill's proposals and incorporate them into its own Sale of Alcohol Bill, which is expected to come before the Dáil later this year.

The Good Friday ban was introduced in 1927, although there are exemptions including for hotel guests eating a meal.