If Ireland’s men’s football team make it to the Fifa World Cup, a Government decision will be taken “at the time” on amending licensing laws to allow pubs open for the early morning matches, the foreign affairs minister has said. “I leave that to the minister for justice, who has responsibility for licensing,” she said. “We’ve had this problem before, and we’ve had issues like this emerge before, and we’ve always found ways around it at the same time. 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. “We all need to pull together and make sure that if people are coming over for the matches, that it’s an enjoyable time.”

Source: Irish Examiner March 16, 2026 16:27 UTC