If Ireland\u2019s men\u2019s football team make it to the Fifa World Cup, a Government decision will be taken \u201cat the time\u201d on amending licensing laws to allow pubs open for the early morning matches, the foreign affairs minister has said.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the pivotal match against Czechia<\/a> next week, Helen McEntee<\/a> made the remarks as she launched the Government\u2019s International Sports Diplomacy strategy at Boston\u2019s Fenway Park on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cI leave that to the minister for justice, who has responsibility for licensing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had this problem before, and we\u2019ve had issues like this emerge before, and we\u2019ve always found ways around it at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cI think what\u2019s important here is that it\u2019s not just about having the craic and having the laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We have serious sportsmen and women who are doing fantastic work and achieving so much.\u00a0<\/p>\n “So there doesn\u2019t always have to be that alcohol angle to it at the same time. [But] it obviously adds to some of the viewing for people, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Troy Parrott<\/a> and co will travel to Prague next week for the crucial World Cup playoff on Thursday, March 26, after their heroics last November.<\/p>\n If Ireland overcome the Czechs, a winner-takes-all game will follow against either Denmark or North Macedonia the following Tuesday to make it to North America.<\/p>\n As per the draw, Ireland would have two games in Mexico and one in Atlanta, Georgia, but the Mexican kick-off times would be in the middle of the night Irish time.<\/p>\n In January, Independent TD Barry Heneghan told the\u00a0Irish Examiner\u00a0an extension to licensing hours should be time-limited and temporary<\/a>, arguing it would allow people to come together safely to cheer on the Boys in Green.<\/p>\n