Did you vote in our Good Friday poll? Results in…
By Mary Dennehy
AFTER more than 1,000 votes were cast, The Echo can reveal that 54 per cent of respondents voted ‘No’ when asked in our Facebook poll if they were in favour of pubs selling alcohol on Good Friday.
Pubs are set to be pulling pints this Good Friday after legislation was passed by the Dáil last Thursday, January 25.
The legislation passed allows pubs to serve alcohol on Good Friday, with the new legislation to be signed into law by President Michael D Higgins before Good Friday on March 30.
Last Thursday, January 25, Echo.ie asked its readers through a Facebook poll if they were in favour of pubs selling alcohol on Good Friday – with the answer options of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ given.
Over the course of two days, 1,039 people engaged with the poll – with 46 per cent (473) voting ‘Yes’ they were in favour of pubs selling alcohol on Good Friday and 54 per cent (566) voting ‘No’.
The amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Act, which was introduced by a number of Senators, will allow pubs to sell alcohol for the first time in 91 years – after the ban was introduced in Ireland in 1927.
Introducing the Bill, the Minister of State David Stanton said that the removal of the ban on selling alcohol on Good Friday would help Irish tourism.
However, there was criticism from some TDs including Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan who suggested that Ireland could do with a “few Good Fridays throughout the year”.