Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Those of us in this room get what Dr. Shannon is saying. Does he think civic society outside this committee room is buying into what he is saying? We can examine all of these reports, Dr. Shannon can make his point until he is blue in the face and Deputy Conway can give a fantastic presentation, but that does not mean people will buy into the point that is being made about the harm of alcohol. At a meeting that took place at Cork City Council yesterday, the Cork city coroner made a passionate point about alcohol being a gateway. I regret that today's meeting did not take place before the Private Members' debate a couple of weeks ago on the legalisation of cannabis. The meeting in Cork yesterday was not just about heroin; it was also about alcohol. Those of us in attendance at this meeting have been converted.