Mr. Liam Herrick:

Specifically on the question of outdoor drinking, I believe that the consumption and sale of alcohol is heavily regulated in normal times because it is a highly sensitive area with regard to the commission of crime, public order, public safety and so on. What we have here is a very confused shift in policy and a lack of co-ordination between what the Government is saying, what local authorities are trying to manage, what An Garda Síochána is trying to manage, and what businesses are trying to do in the areas of takeaway drinks and the consumption of alcohol in public places. That confusion is leading to real problems. Dr. Lunn spoke of continuing periods of failure of compliance. We would be concerned at the public safety risk and the impact on community policing relationships if the Government does not come out with a pretty clear and coherent policy on what is legal and what is not in respect of the consumption of alcohol in the State out of doors. The current situation is worrying. We have seen some very serious consequences of that in recent weeks. This is an area that clearly needs to be addressed. Normally in our cities and towns the equilibrium of public order is linked to the sale and consumption of alcohol being restricted to on-licensed premises. That is not the scenario at present and that has a destabilising effect on the public order situation.