Danny Healy-Rae urges extra hour until 3am for POC fair in Killaradan
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil about the POC fair in Killaradan and urged an extra hour of pub opening until 3am to preserve a 400-year tradition. He criticised a district court decision that granted 14 publicans an exemption only until 2am and asked whether "gathered resources" were too strained for an extra hour.
The speaker opened by highlighting the long history of the POC fair festival in Killaradan, saying it has run for over 400 years and has survived many obstacles and bad times, even "Joe Duffy's attack on the goat." He framed the fair as a place where people meet infrequently and stressed the importance of maintaining local tradition.
Danny Healy-Rae noted that 14 publicans recently sought a district court exemption to trade until 3am but were granted an exemption only until 2am. He said he believes they have appealed and reported they were told an extra hour would be too much of a strain on "gathered resources."
He directly questioned the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice about whether the Garda or other gathered resources are under such pressure that an additional hour until 3am cannot be afforded. He contrasted local needs in Killaradan with calls in Dublin to open venues until 6am and said some want to "bring back the night."
Danny Healy-Rae invited the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, the Chief Whip and other officials to attend the POC fair, suggesting they have time during recess to visit. He repeated his request for an answer on whether an extra hour each night could be accommodated to maintain the festival tradition.
Event and tradition
The speaker opened by highlighting the long history of the POC fair festival in Killaradan, saying it has run for over 400 years and has survived many obstacles and bad times, even "Joe Duffy's attack on the goat." He framed the fair as a place where people meet infrequently and stressed the importance of maintaining local tradition.
Court decision and appeal
Danny Healy-Rae noted that 14 publicans recently sought a district court exemption to trade until 3am but were granted an exemption only until 2am. He said he believes they have appealed and reported they were told an extra hour would be too much of a strain on "gathered resources."
Questions to government
He directly questioned the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice about whether the Garda or other gathered resources are under such pressure that an additional hour until 3am cannot be afforded. He contrasted local needs in Killaradan with calls in Dublin to open venues until 6am and said some want to "bring back the night."
Invitation to attend and timing
Danny Healy-Rae invited the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, the Chief Whip and other officials to attend the POC fair, suggesting they have time during recess to visit. He repeated his request for an answer on whether an extra hour each night could be accommodated to maintain the festival tradition.
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Transcript
Many people are looking forward to the POC fair festival in Killaradan again this year. It has been going on for over 400 years and it has survived many obstacles, bad times, good times, and it even survived Joe Duffy's attack on the goat. However, 14 publicans looked for an exemption until 3 a.m. in the district court recently and only got an exemption until 2 a.m. I think they appealed it, I hope they are. And they were told that it would be too much of a strain on gathered resources. Yet we have to listen to constantly about requests here in Dublin to open Dublin until 6 o'clock in the morning. What they are saying is they want to bring back the night. And Taoiseach, this is a place where so many people come back to meet each other earlier, maybe every 3 or 4 years, but they meet there. Taoiseach, the question I am asking you. Are gathered resources under so much pressure that we can't afford an extra hour each night till 3 o'clock to maintain the tradition that we have had in Killaradan? It was open all night one time, Taoiseach. So, the question I am asking you. Are we under so much pressure for gathered resources and seeing as you are there now, I am inviting you all to POC fair. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, the Chief Whip and yourself. Well, you have plenty of time during recess to get to this. But I am asking you, is the force under so much pressure that we can't afford an extra hour each night? Thank you very much, Taoiseach. Please answer. There were many times in Kerry, apparently, when there were many lock-ins, Deputy. But I would say you vote on Leo Vadgar in terms of nightlife, and you are extolling the virtues of going the whole way the whole night long. So, the big issue is from drinking till 2am. This is the first time you have ever been presenting me in the Dáil like this, that you actually want us to go to 3am. Sorry. Deputy, please resume your seat. Deputy, to be fair, other deputies will miss out because of your other deputies will miss out. Taoiseach, your time is up. I have the Minister for Justice alongside him. Thank you. Deputy. Deputy. Deputy Sinead Gibney. He is undertaking to go down to the POC fair. Deputy Sinead Gibney, Taoiseach resume your seat please. Deputy Sinead Gibney. Thank you. Deputy Sinead Gibney. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.