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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has told the Dáil it is his understanding that it is not against the law to drink alcohol in public places.
Varadkar was responding to a question from Independent TD Michael Healy Rae regarding the reopening of cafes and restaurants and the consumption of alcohol outdoors.
The Taoiseach said: “My understanding is that it’s not against the law. There may be bye-laws in certain counties and certain city areas, but in terms of national law drinking alcohol in a public place in Ireland is not illegal.
“Being drunk and disorderly is, that’s an entirely different thing, but just having the one pint, perhaps, or two or three glasses is not against the law.”
As Varadkar alluded to, bye-laws do actually forbid the consumption of any alcohol across many of the places that have become popular drinking haunts during the coronavirus pandemic.
In Dublin city, drinking “any liquid containing alcohol” is banned in any place that the public has access to. The bye-laws specifically mention that it is banned in parks, beaches, green spaces, canals and riverbanks.
Similarly comprehensive bye-laws forbid drinking in many other cities and towns including Galway and Limerick.
The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 outlines that it is an offence for a person to be so drunk in a public place that they could reasonably be presumed to be a danger to themselves or to anyone around them.
If found guilty of this offence, a person could be liable to a class E fine and a member of An Garda Síochána can confiscate any alcohol the person may be carrying.
It is also illegal for a licence holder to sell alcohol in a closed container, such as a can or bottle, for consumption off the premises in a place 100 metres from the premises. If a person purchases alcohol in this manner, they could be liable for a class E fine.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Healy Rae said: “Taoiseach, what can you do, along with the Minister for Justice, to help whereby at present you are not to consume alcohol outside or near a premise from which it is purchased.
“Can these laws be relaxed, or temporarily, even, to allow for the next weeks or months?”
As noted by Varadkar, there is no national legislation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public.
However, each local authority is entitled to pass bye-laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in a public place.
Gardaí also have power under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 to seize alcohol in the possession of a child under the age of 18 where they have reasonable cause to believe that the alcohol will be consumed by a minor in a public place.
Further information on drinking alcohol in public in Ireland can be found here.
With reporting by Céimin Burke
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I wouldn’t go into the next room to watch him.
@Benny McHale: he’d probably say the same about yourself
@Peazel: Probably!
@Benny McHale: Nobody is asking you to.
@Benny McHale: everyone has different taste.. so what?
@Benny McHale: Given the rate of Dublin B&Bs when he’s in town, you’d be better off putting bunk beds in the next room for the week!
@Benny McHale: Doubt it. Sure I’m great craic
Include an option for people who are completely uninterested in Garth Brooks
@Mary Fitzsimons: Your option is to just move onto the next article
@Mary Fitzsimons: but still clicked on the article.
@Mark Byrne: and commented…
I got 2 tickets for my husband and myself delighted, love garth Brooks. First time ever securing tickets on ticketmaster , so well chuffed. There’s always gonna b haters…
@Sinéad Doherty: Well done, enjoy!
@Sinéad Doherty: great! Were they expensive??
@Sinéad Doherty: ‘haters’? Why is it these days that you can’t like things without being a ‘hater’? Part of an effort to deflect criticism? Bono always goes on about haters in an effort to discredit critics, even those who are serious about their dislike of u2 and who have perfectly valid comments to make.
The only people looking forward to this are the GAA and the cowboy hat sellers. Musical covid
@Bennett blaster: Absolutely.
I am sorry for all the local residents.
Were completely ignored.
All we get on Radio and TV for past weeks are LATE LATE TOY SHOW.
AND GART BROOKS.
Sadly 400,000 extremely sad human beings did.
@The Firestarter: imagine someone having a different interest than you! What a shock!
@Declan Edward: I went on like that for a while. Difference is I was 14, mad grown adults thinking their music taste makes them better than others…
@Megan Finnegan-Ward: make sure you brush up on your 1992 line dancing moves.
@JustBEERbarry: What for, Barry? The concert I’ve no interest in going to and didn’t try to get tickets for?
@Megan Finnegan-Ward: Heel toe Heel heel toe.
@Declan Edward:
@the firestarter there they are all out of step except my son
Why would I bother?
@Anne Busher Collins: replying on a Journal post about a topic you’re not interested in? I dunno either
Never heard of him.
Who is he ?
@Geraldine O’Riordan: Google is your friend in these instances.
@Geraldine O’Riordan: I’ve never heard of you, but does saying that make me sound cool ?
@Geraldine O’Riordan:
New hearing aid required maybe
Garth Brooks is a false, insincere showman who couldn’t care less about Croke Park residents or their local charities – when asked by Caitriona Perry on RTÉ News if he’d compensate residents or donate to this underprivileged area, he said he didn’t worry about such things and he had someone else who deals with these issues on his behalf.
Is the journal the PR for Garth Brooks, they are pushing him hard, to much of it and the people will be sick of him they won’t want to go.
@Declan Carr: He hardly needs it. More engagement for them.
Yeeehawww
Just checked for the crack, 134,212 people ahead of me in the queue, ffs.
@Brian Murphy: I didn’t think crack was that popular! was there many in for Gareth Brooks tickets!
@This time its personable!: all the lols for you! Ha ha!
@This time its personable!: Something to do with the line dancing I guess
@Larry Betts: now larry thats funny..lol
I’d rather poop in my hands and clap.
@Mark Brown: Or do that at the actual gig. Even better!
Managed to secure 3 nights so far, can’t wait!
@Alan Daly: you need help
@Mattress Dick: You here replying on a topic you clearly have to interest in to people that do have an interest to insult them – and yet she is the one that need help? Sure…..
@Gavin Conran: *he
@Alan Daly:
So lucky
@Alan Daly: Are u for Real.
No, I’m going to Mike Denver instead. Buy Irish. Support local.
@Mikey Richard: what about micheal english? Is he irish?
@Brian Dunne: I remember Louis trying to sell him as the next Michael Buble too!
26.7% of Journal readers are culchies
No. I’d rather severe my meat and 2 veg off
The hype and media attention this always brings is ridiculous. Don’t see the media doing P.R for other Gigs.
Having to drag my ar** to Dublin in all that traffic or to wedge myself on the 3 hour train or pay extortionate Hotel prices only for Croke Park locals to whinge and moan after buying houses in the shadow of the national stadium???
I’d love to see him live and the show will be great but it’s not worth all that.
@Alan Curley: Just had a look for the laugh on booking.com there and there’s practically no availability for the Friday night, only the spendy hotels are left.
Or you can spend a whopping €1200+ on Jacob’s Hostel! I had to click into that to see if it was real, it was but the only availability is an 8 bunk private room for that ridiculous price. That’s still €150 per person for a bunk in a hostel.
Thankfully, I just live by the Phoenix park so train to Drumcondra has me sorted.
“No but I tried (0) – 2%” … hmmm
I queued for over an hour along with a few family members, I got there before them and made 4 of my in-laws very happy ladies!
My 1st concert in years can’t wait to go
Why?
Does it help to be hard of hearing to go?
Where is the not interested option?
We’ll be on booster jab number 3 at that stage with uproar about these gigs going ahead. I can see into the future.
No , I wouldn’t go out into my own Garden to see or hear him . Throwing good money after bad.
Check out the hike in hotel prices already
who?
Who d fk is this guy?
I got 6, 4 of which are now for sale at €1300 apiece just to pay for a B n B
And I don’t want them. It’s going to be the same debacle all over again.
I was too busy eating glass,I must have missed it.
Got tickets for all 5 nights
have your say