Ms Evelyn Jones:

The first thing I would say is alcohol is not like bread or firelighters. Second, responsibility for the retail of alcohol in Ireland is vested within the remit of the State. The State has a responsibility to implement strategies that allow alcohol to be retailed in a responsible manner. The problem lies with the State; we are the collateral damage in respect of its failure to regulate the retail of alcohol adequately since 1990 when the system of regulation was dismantled bit by bit. We are where we are today because of its actions regarding the retail of alcohol.