Dr. Geoffrey Shannon:

Not normally. I would be happy to do so. I am never reluctant to offer my views when I am asked for them. I would like to make it clear that I think the Minister, Deputy Shatter, has been very much a reforming Minister. Several of his initiatives, including this initiative and his reform of the family courts system, have been very welcome. I would be happy to feed constructively into any discussion on the future shape of what I would characterise as Irish family life. I think there is a real need for such a discussion. The Minister is to be commended on bringing forward the family relationships Bill ahead of a referendum on same-sex marriage.

I passionately agree with everything Deputy Conway said in her intervention. The issue of alcohol is the key area I am trying to highlight today. If the committee takes nothing else from my attendance at this meeting, I ask it to reflect on the need to examine this significant feature of Irish life. It comes up again and again in the report that was published by Dr. Helen Buckley last week. When I was thinking last week about what I would say to this committee, it occurred to me that I had to say something about this issue in my capacity as the independent State rapporteur on child protection. It is incumbent on us all to do something about it. I commend the Chairman on-----