City’s chief bottle-washer defends booze bylaws
City Chief Executive Brendan McGrath insists he is “absolutely happy” with the veracity of the Council’s bylaws outlawing drinking alcohol in public spaces.
An apparent conflict with the national Intoxicating Liquor Act identified by Galway Gardaí – leading them to warn publicans here not serve alcohol on the newly designated outdoor dining areas the first weekend the pubs opened – has been solved with legislation passed by the Government this week.
This followed instructions issued by Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for Gardaí to use their discretion in policing outdoor dining areas while continuing to respond to public complaints about public order, parking and noise.
Galway Gardaí had been adamant that liquor licences granted by the courts permitted the sale of alcohol on the premises or to be taken away and consumed 100m away.
Mayor Colette Connolly (Ind) said she had been “inundated” with complaints from residents about drinking and anti-social behaviour in public spaces. Many people were concerned about the takeover of public spaces by pubs and their customers and the lack of clear demarcation of the outdoor facilities, posing health and safety issues for those with a disability.
“I’m deeply concerned at the request for Gardaí that discretion should be exercised. There are serious issues arising,” she told the meeting.
Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind) criticised the Mayor for “labelling young people the way you do. To say that 100 per cent of people are the problem . . . .95 per cent of young people are behaving properly.”
Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) agreed that it was a small minority causing problems.
“We need to give businesses a break. We need to give people a break . . . young people in the city have had a really rough 16-18 months. We need to have the best outdoor summer we possibly can while adhering to the Covid guidelines.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.