Nightclub hours "unlikely" to be extended by summer, according to Taoiseach

A year-and-a-half after the plan to extend nightclub and pub hours was first announced, the wait continues – as Taoiseach Simon Harris reveals that the new legislation is "unlikely" to be ready by this summer.

The efforts to reform Ireland's outdated licensing laws, by allowing nightclubs to stay open until 6am, and pubs to stay open until 12.30am, were initially announced in October 2022.

Speaking to The Journal this morning, the Taoiseach cast doubt over the possibility of meeting the summer 2024 target – which was itself pushed back from the Government's original summer 2023 target.

“I personally think that’s unlikely, but that would be a matter for me to work through with Minister McEntee,” Harris told the publication.

As Hot Press reported last month, Harris is facing mounting pressure – from Fine Gael TDs, Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth and the Road Safety Authority – to abandon the plan to extend opening hours.

Harris told The Journal this morning that he sees "merit in the legislation", but he also sees "merit in just taking a brief period of time here to get it right and to listen."

He went on to reveal that he couldn't recall the last time he was in a nightclub, but it was "quite a long time ago".

There are currently only 89 nightclubs left in the country – with the sector facing major challenges like escalating operating and insurance costs, in addition to what's been widely described as an "archaic" licensing system.

Speaking to Hot Press last year, RobbieG of the chart-topping Dublin duo Belters Only reflected on the lack of support for nightlife and the dance scene in Ireland.

“If there were facilities in Dublin – like nightclubs, and support for that culture – imagine what music would be made, and imagine how far we’d go in the world, in terms of dance music. We’re doing all of this with no support...”