Renewal & Objections
District Court Rules
Objections to renewal
of intoxicating liquor licences, forms of renewal certificate, forms of renewal certificate, recording renewals of licences
Definitions
1. In this Order
“the Act of 1986” means the Courts (No. 2) Act, 1986 (No. 26 of 1986);
“the Act of 1988” means the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988 (No. 16 of 1988).
Venue
2. (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this rule, where an objection is made under section 4 (6) of the Act of 1986 to the renewal of –
(a) an on-licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor,
(b) a special restaurant licence granted under Part II of the Act of 1988, or
(c) a licence or licences for the sale of spirits or beer in retail quantities for consumption off the premises where sold, it shall be made at the Annual Licensing Court for the court area wherein the premises to which the objection relates are situate.
(2) Where the objection is made to the renewal of a wholesale beer dealer’s licence or any other off-licence which, by virtue of section 49 of the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910, expires on the thirtieth day of June each year, such objection may be made at the last sitting of the Court for the transaction of summary business in the month of June for the court area wherein the premises to which the objection relates are situate, or at the first available sitting of the Court thereafter.
Notice of objection
3. (1) Such objection shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 80.1, Schedule C, signed by the objector or solicitor for the objector.
(2) The notice shall be served upon the holder of the licence or licences attached to the premises to which the objection relates at least twenty-one days before the date of sitting of the said Annual Licensing Court or other sitting of the Court before which the objection has been listed for hearing. When service has been effected the original notice, together with a statutory declaration as to service thereof, shall be lodged with the Clerk as soon as possible but not later than seven days before the date of the said sitting.
Clerk to notify Collector of C & E, etc.
4. Upon receipt of the notice of objection the Clerk shall forthwith notify (in the Form 80.2, Schedule C) the Collector of Customs and Excise for the district in which the said premises are situate accordingly and, where the objector is not a member of the Garda SÃochána, the Clerk shall also notify the Superintendent of the Garda SÃochána for the area.
Order of the Court
5. (1) The order of the Court on hearing the objection shall be in the Form 80.3, Schedule C.
Clerk
 — to send copy to Collector C & E
(2) Where the Court allows the objection and no notice of appeal against such order is lodged with the Clerk within the time prescribed in that behalf the Clerk shall send to the Collector of Customs and Excise a certified copy of the order of the Court.
— to send a renewal cert. (or copy) to Collector
(3) Where the Court disallows the objection and no notice of appeal against such order is lodged with the Clerk within the time prescribed in that behalf the Clerk shall forthwith send to the Collector of Customs and Excise a certificate for the renewal of the licence in the Form 80. 4, Schedule C.(or copy thereof).
— to notify Collector in cases of appeal
6. Where notice of an appeal against any order of the Court to which this Order relates is at any time lodged with the Clerk, such Clerk shall forthwith send notice to this effect to the Collector of Customs and Excise.
Mode of service
7. Documents which are required by this Order to be sent to the Collector of Customs and Excise may be sent by registered post or, may be delivered to the office of the said Collector where appropriate.
Forms of renewal certificate
8. The certificate to be issued for the renewal of a six-day licence or an early closing licence shall be in the Form 80.4, Schedule C.Where a certificate for renewal is granted pursuant to section 30 (1) (b) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960 such certificate shall be in the Form 77.5 Schedule C.
Recording renewals of licences
9. In every case in which a renewal of a licence within the meaning of section 4 of the Act of 1986 is granted and issued by an officer of the Revenue Commissioners and the Clerk receives from the Revenue Commissioners notice of the issue of such licence, such Clerk shall record the particulars thereof in the Register of Licences and retain the notice in his or her custody.
Annual licensing court
1. A Judge of the District Court shall hold a court, to be known as the Annual Licensing Court, in each court area in the Judge’s district on the day of the last sitting of the Court for that court area for the transaction of the business of the Court exercising its summary jurisdiction held in the month of September each year.
2. Every such Annual Licensing Court shall hear and determine
— all such applications made to it for certificates, licenses, orders, or renewals thereof, and objections to the grant or renewal of such certificates, licences or orders, as are provided for in Orders 63 to 89 of these Rules and are required to be made at the Annual Licensing Court;
— any other application, objection or other matter which is required by statute or by Rules of Court to be made or brought at that court;
and the Judge may adjourn any such court from time to time as circumstances may deem it necessary.
3. For the purposes of this Order the day of the last sitting of the Court in the month of September in the Dublin Metropolitan District shall be that sitting held on the last Thursday in that month each year.