The Justice Minister says she will consider lifting the ban on alcohol sales on Good Friday - but not in time for this year.

There have been calls from the tourist industry to allow pubs open, and rugby's Champions Cup quarter finals will also take place over the Easter weekend.

Vintners groups met with the Minister last week and held what they called a ‘very positive’ meeting on the issue of scrapping the ban.

Frances Fitzgerald says she's considering the issue of Good Friday - but no decision will be made until later this year

"In relation to Good Friday, it will be one of the issues I’ll be looking at when I’m finalising the sale of alcohol bill," she said. "The sale of alcohol bill should be later this year."