Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2000

PART 5

Miscellaneous

Licensing of authorised events at racecourses and greyhound race tracks.

23.—(1) In this section, “authorised event” means—

(a) a trade fair or show, including a fashion show,

(b) an exhibition, including an exhibition of animals or livestock,

(c) a concert,

(d) television coverage of a horse or greyhound race meeting being held contemporaneously elsewhere,

(e) in relation to a racecourse, an equestrian event other than a horse race, or

(f) an auction or sale,

which takes place over not more than 7 consecutive days and is authorised by an order of the District Court under subsection (3).

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Acts or this Act, a licence under the Acts for the sale of intoxicating liquor at an authorised racecourse or a greyhound race track for consumption at the racecourse or race track shall operate, while the licence is in force, to authorise—

(a) the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor,

(b) the keeping open of premises for such sale, and

(c) the permitting of such consumption,

on the occasion of an authorised event at the racecourse or race track during the period—

(i) beginning at the time at which the public are permitted admission to the authorised event (but not before 10.30 a.m.), and

(ii) ending thirty minutes after the conclusion of the authorised event or, as the case may be, 30 minutes after the conclusion of the proceedings on each day on which it takes place,

but during no other period.

(3) The District Court may, on application by the holder of the licence concerned and after hearing the officer in charge of the Garda Síochána for the licensing area in which the racecourse or race track concerned is situated, grant an order (in this section referred to as an “authorised event order”) for the holding of an authorised event at the racecourse or race track concerned.

(4) Not more than 15 authorised event orders may be granted in any period of 12 months.

(5) An authorised event order shall not be granted unless the holder of the licence has, not less than four working days before applying for the order, served on the officer in charge referred to in subsection (3) a notice of his or her intention so to apply, stating his or her name and address and the place, authorised event and period for which the order is sought.

(6) The jurisdiction of the District Court under this section may be exercised by the judge of the District Court for the time being assigned to the district court district in which the racecourse or race track concerned is situated.