290. Deputy Ciara M. Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to allow alcohol to be sold on Good Friday; if the sale of alcohol Bill contains measures regarding Good Friday licensing laws; if this Bill will be published before this term of Dáil Éireann ends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2180/16]

I had intended that the statutory provisions relating to the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, which have historical origins, would be examined in the context of the forthcoming Sale of Alcohol Bill which will update the law relating to the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises by repealing the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011, and the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and replacing them with streamlined and updated provisions. However drafting of that complex Bill has been delayed and I have therefore asked my Department to examine whether it may be possible to proceed with a number of pressing reforms to the Licensing Acts in a future separate Bill. However examination of this matter is still at an early stage and no timeframe for a decision is yet available.