Ulster Unionist Communities Spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA, has questioned the point of a new consultation on liquor licensing laws in Northern Ireland – the latest in a long line of deliberations on the issue – given the Department has already suggested that no changes will be made in the absence of a Minister.

Robbie Butler said:

“Northern Ireland has been trying to modernise its laws for nearly 15 years. It’s been going on for so long now that it’s embarrassing.

“Whilst the system does desperately need to be made fit for purpose for the 21st century, the reality is – and just as the Department for Communities has again confirmed – the outcome of this latest consultation will only be made available to an incoming Minister to ultimately make a decision on. Until we have a Minister in place, there will be no change.

“Just before the Assembly collapsed in January 2017, an important Bill – the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill – was making its way through the legislative process. I simply cannot understand what this latest consultation will discover that we don’t already know.

“We have been without a Government for over 1,000 days now, and with no realistic prospect of a restoration of the Executive any time soon, I’m regrettably left even questioning the point of this latest consultation. We already know what the problems are with our liquor licensing laws and we don’t need another pointless consultation to tell us again. It looks like an obsession with process by the Department when what we need is outcomes and results. This is just one of the many issues that I believe Direct Rule Ministers could and should be progressing.”