The thin end of the wedge?

Today, a judge in Limerick granted a special exemption to the Intoxicating Liquor Act, which prohibits publicans from opening on Good Friday. The local vintners made the application on the back of Munster and Leinster's Magners league clash on that day. Under the existing law, the vintners claim they stood to lose up to seven million Euro. The exemption allows publicans to open from 6pm until 11.30pm on Good Friday.


Since this morning's judgement, reaction has been largely one sided. Father Adrian Egan, a Redemtorist priest and rugby supporter in Limerick, contributed to both Newstalk's lunchtime show and to Pat Kenny's radio show on RTÉ. Speaking with Eamon Keane on Newstalk, Father Egan said he felt, 'some degree of disappointment.' He continued, 'it begins to change the nature of the day and the traditions in our society that have been there for so long.  That was a day that was always solemn and different, a time for reflection and quiet.'


The conservative voice of the status quo, have been thus far, more vocal in their opposition to the judgement, than the ultra liberals (to use the phrase of a texter to Pat Kenny) have been in voicing their (presumed) support. Another text into Kenny decried the news stating, 'what have we come to?' It was at this point, I was reminded of  Helen Lovejoy and won't somebody please think of the children. Another text noted that this draws a line in the sand, as Ireland struggles to choose 'morals' over 'money,' like a puppy caught between two masters. Poor Ireland, the one with the waggly tale.


Largely overlooked in today's debate is the role the State continues to play in prescribing the religious doctrines of the Catholic church. Pat Kenny meekly alluded to this in his conversation with Father Egan, noting that, the 'question arises about the nanny state' and whether, 'the state should be deciding' when we drink?


While Kenny may not have satisfactorily followed up this line of questioning, he was at least cognisant of the burning issue of the relationship between the State and the Church. The same cannot be said of Keane on Newstalk, who missed the point when lamenting, 'this could've all been solved of course, if the match was rescheduled.'


That the match was not rescheduled, forced this issue into the realms of public debate via the courts, and it is overdue. The law itself dates back to 1927 and is a legislative remnant of the power the Catholic church once wielded over the hearts and minds of Irish citizens and law makers alike. More than any other time since the inception of the State, the role of the Catholic church in Ireland is up for debate. Opinion on this matter may simply split along generational lines, but this ruling and the subsequent debate, one hopes, is only the thin end of the wedge.