All Night Clubs and After Midnight Pubs
Nightclubs will remain open throughout the night and pub closing time will be 12.30am every night under new Government proposals.
The Cabinet has agreed the outline of legislation which would allow pubs to open from 10.30am to 12.30am, seven days a week, while nightclubs would not have to close until 6am. The changes are expected to be enacted next year if the legislation is passed by the Oireachtas.
The Government has also agreed to provide additional supports to help businesses and communities adjust to licensing law changes.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin said this decision will contribute to a better night-time economy.
Nine new pilot cities and towns will now get advisers to help develop a sustainable night-time economy in their areas. These include Dublin city, Cork city, Limerick city, Galway city, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford town.
There is also a new capital fund of up to €2m in sound-proofing grants for night-time venues.
Opening hours for late bars will remain at 2.30am, and a new late bar permit will be required. Late bars and nightclubs will have to apply to the courts for permits, and they will need CCTV on the premises along with fully accredited security staff.
Licences can only be granted by the courts - with objections allowed from fire services, local authorities, the Health Service Executive, local communities and gardaí.
The CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland said she has serious concerns about the proposed extension of licensing hours. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Sheila Gilheany said that research shows increasing opening hours causes an increase in the harms from alcohol, including violence in different forms, public disorder and increased hospital admissions.
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