Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2025
640. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he intends to introduce statutory safeguards governing the home delivery of alcohol, including requirements for delivery staff to refuse delivery where a person is visibly intoxicated or incapacitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69612/25]
View answer641. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps his Department has taken to assess the public health, addiction and safeguarding risks associated with home alcohol delivery services; if these risks are informing the development of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69613/25]
View answer642. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify whether licence holders will be legally responsible for alcohol supplied via home delivery in the same manner as alcohol served on-premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69614/25]
View answer643. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will commit to a health impact assessment on the provisions of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, with particular reference to the regulation of home and online alcohol deliveries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69616/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 640, 641, 642 and 643 together.
The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws. This commitment will be progressed in due course and public health will remain a key consideration for the Department throughout that process, in consultation with the Department of Health.
Under existing legislation, where alcohol is purchased online, the same restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor apply, including the restrictions in relation to hours of trading and the provisions in relation to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons.
Section 31 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as amended, makes provision for offences relating to the sale and delivery of alcohol products to persons under the age of 18 years. It is an offence under section 31(2) for a licensee to sell or deliver, or to permit any other person to sell or deliver, alcohol products to any person for consumption off his or her licensed premises by a person under the age of 18 years in any place except with the explicit consent of the person's parent or guardian in a private residence in which he or she is present either as of right or with permission.
On conviction for a first offence, a mandatory closure order of between two and seven days will be imposed by the court, together with a fine of up to €3,000. The penalties for a second or subsequent offence is a closure order of between seven and 30 days and a fine of up to €5,000. In addition, the licence holder is required to continue to pay staff for the duration of the closure period.
