Donal O'Keefe

Well, we think the benefit of sequential closing, having the main ordinary bars closing at 12.30, late bars at 2.30 and then the nightclubs at 4.30 actually, you know, sequences the crowds.

It would reduce pressure on public transport, reduce pressure on taxis, reduce pressure on fast food outlets.

and allows the crowds to stream out on a kind of a longer term basis.

It also must be remembered, Matt, and it's always forgotten in these debates, that alcohol consumption is coming down and down steadily.

It fell another 2% last year.

We're now on a per capita basis drinking a third less alcohol than 20 years ago.

Young people in particular are drinking much more moderately.

And that, you know, I think means that we're mature enough as a society now to have

nightclubs going to 4.30am.

That lies in the face of our research where 8 out of 10 customers aged between 18 and 34 want later trading.

The results also show that they believe European cities across the EU have better nightlife because of later trading.

We hear from our customers a lot about them travelling

to nightclubs on the continent for big weekends away.

And I think what we're seeing in terms of how consumers are socialising, that people are going out less early in the week, for sure, but at the weekends, they're out and out for the night.

And for some of them, an option to go on after late bars is what they're seeking.

We hear from our customers all the time at the doors as they leave,

where they're heading to next, you know, whose gaffer they're going to, whose house, whose apartment, they're looking to continue their socialising later.

And we think a modern capital city like Dublin should have a nightclub option, you know, recognising it'll be a relatively small number of businesses.

Nobody wants every bar in Dublin to turn into a nightclub.

These will be big, well-resourced, well-managed businesses with high levels of security to offer late trading, late socialising to those that want it.