The long-running issue of Ground Rents was raised by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin in the Dáil last week, when he questioned the Taoiseach and urged the passage of legislation to abolish what he described as a ``legacy of British landlordism''.

The Sinn Féin TD took the opportunity of the Order of Business, when the Taoiseach answers questions about promised legislation, on 1 June, to ask Bertie Ahern when the promised Ground Rent Bill would be introduced. The Bill would abolish ground rent but has been merely listed as `promised' by this government since they took office.

``Representatives of Fianna Fáil recently stated the Bill will come before the Dáil shortly. What is the position with the proposed Bill which is expected to address the unacceptable situation still applying in several parts of the country, including in the town of Carrickmacross?'' asked Ó Caoláin.

Ahern replied that there were ``constitutional, technical and practical difficulties which have to be dealt with''. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin commented later that the reply was ``totally unsatisfactory and unacceptable''. He said: ``The government has cited these alleged difficulties on numerous occasions. But they have shown no evidence of any effort to overcome them, if they exist at all. Clearly, there is no political will on the part of this government to deal with ground rents, which persist as a legacy of British landlordism and a very real financial burden on many people.''

Opening hours Bill welcomed

New legislation allowing for longer pub opening hours was welcomed by Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin in the Dáil last week. The Cavan/Monaghan TD also called for restrictions on licensed clubs to be lifted in recognition of their role in community life.

The Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2000 provides for the extension of pub opening hours to 11.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 12.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday closing will remain at 11pm and the changes will apply all year round.

Ó Caoláin described these reforms as ``long overdue'' and said they addressed the need to deal honestly with the reality of drinking habits in Ireland today.

He told the Dáil:

``Many people are genuinely concerned about the possible ill-effects of extended opening hours. We need to take on board those concerns. They arise from an awareness of the widespread abuse of alcohol and from knowledge of the high levels of alcoholism in this country and its terrible effects on people with an addiction and on those around them. This is a complex issue. There is not a simplistic direct relation between hours of opening and the incidence of alcoholism. The liberalisation in the Bill is necessary. It is also necessary to adopt a more determined approach to the issue of alcoholism and its treatment. This is our most serious drug problem, yet it gets only a fraction of the attention it deserves.''

Referring to licensed clubs, Ó Caolain said: ``Such clubs are an integral part of community life in urban and rural areas throughout the country. The Bill maintains unnecessary restrictions on such clubs, restrictions that in most cases are not enforced. The requirement for all patrons other than members to sign in individually and to be effectively chaperoned by a club member is widely disregarded and should be dispensed with.

``The Bill further tightens restrictions whereby clubs would not be able to host private functions other than those for a club member. That would deprive many clubs of badly needed revenue. Many of those are the same clubs that appeal every year for funding under the Sports Capital Programme, yet that provision would curb their ability to supplement their funds by hosting birthday parties, christenings, retirement parties and so on. Surely what is needed is a liberalisation of the law so that private functions and fundraising functions for local organisations can be allowed in clubs with patrons free to attend as they would other venues.''