asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, in relation to holders of liquor licences pursuant to paragraph (2) of the Licensing Act, 1902 whose grading by Bord Fáilte raises a difficulty under section 20 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960.

This problem arose in relation to intoxicating liquor legislation and not from the registration and grading system operated by Bord Fáilte. As I explained to the Deputy in reply to his question on this subject on 11th July, 1968, it is not possible to set aside registration regulations made under the Tourist Traffic Acts for the purpose of permitting the guesthouses involved to renew their licences. These regulations specify certain criteria for registration with Bord Fáilte and they must be applied in accordance with objective standards to all premises. Any action in relation to the guesthouses in question would require an amendment of the Intoxicating Liquor Acts and would, accordingly, be a matter for the Minister for Justice.

It now appears that the Minister is wriggling out of the undertaking he gave at the conclusion of the debate on his Estimate prior to the Recess. Will the Minister not agree that the power he is claiming under section 25 of the Tourist Traffic Act 1939, as in the reply of the 11th June last, given by the Parliamentary Secretary, when the Minister was absent, gives them power to grade hotels but not power to define hotels, and that these premises are hotels by legislative definition and should accordingly be registered as such? I do not mind if they are given a Z grading by Bord Fáilte but I want to warn the Minister that he will be incurring considerable expense for Bord Fáilte if they persist in this.

This has already been explained to the Deputy in the previous reply. It is simply impossible to make a change in the minimum requirement for the grading of hotels——

I am not concerned with grading but with definition.

This relates to definition and——

And the Minister is altering it.

——and here and elsewhere in the world "hotel" has a particular meaning and a particular definition and particular minimum standards. I very much regret that it would be quite impossible to adopt the Deputy's suggestion.

Has the Minister no concern for the families running these establishments who have put their savings into them? Will he not do something in conjunction with the Minister for Justice, or, indeed, with the whole Government, to come to the relief of these people?

As the Deputy knows this matter arises under the liquor legislation——

Will the Minister give support to my Private Member's Bill?

If there could be any solution naturally I would wish for one.