Ms Paula Leonard:

I thank the Deputy. The Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network has sought the prioritisation of child protection and to have the child protection objective built into this important and huge legislation. There are a number of grounds on which we make that argument, the first being that current legislation is extending the hours during which children can be present on licensed premises with their parents. They are now permitted in winter hours on licensed premises where alcohol is being sold and consumed until 9 p.m. and in the summer until 10 p.m.

We are quite concerned that the 15-year-old requirement to stay at a private function has been removed. We have, effectively, created conditions whereby children can be present at 21st and 18th birthday parties and family get-togethers until whatever hour alcohol is being sold. If that is now to the new extent of 2 p.m. for a late licence, children could be exposed to high-risk drinking occasions and harm.

We strongly recommend that the committee examine the fact that in 2004 legislation was introduced which allowed for large-scale under-18 events on licensed premises. This involves the youth discos that have become a huge part of the under-18s scene in this country, with up to 5,000 at some events. We are concerned that there are no child protection objectives around that. Large numbers of young people are consuming significant amounts of alcohol before these events. If they are not allowed onto a licensed premises because they are intoxicated, we are exposing them to risks. They are standing around on the street waiting until buses come to pick them up at 2.30 a.m.. Sexual assault treatment units in a number of areas have told us they have had to put more staff on duty on the night of teenage discos and have had a number of multi-perpetrator attacks, where young people have been exposed having not been allowed onto a licensed premises because they are intoxicated. The licensed premises have said that is not their responsibility because they have not let them in. Bus drivers have said they only left people at the premises. Parents have said that children were sober when they got on buses to travel to Letterkenny, Ennis, Limerick or Cork. That needs to be addressed.

There should be age verification at the point-of-sale and delivery for drink delivery services. We would also like to see the extension of the test purchaser of alcohol programme to the home environment. At the moment, gardaí cannot use the programme in home delivery situations in order to find out what age somebody is.

The drink delivery piece is separate to this question. However, it is also a question for Mandate in terms of the health, well-being and increased risk to people providing drink delivery services. They are not on a licensed premises and do not have a bar manager or staff present with them. If they refuse to deliver alcohol because it has already been paid for but somebody does not present ID to say that he or she is over 18 years of age, they are putting themselves at risk if they refuse to hand the alcohol over in a home situation. We are very worried about several pieces in that regard. The impact this legislation will have on children is very significant.

Deputy Pringle is correct to state that over 60% of all of the alcohol consumed in this country is now for home consumption, where there are no closing hours and young people and children are exposed to increased drinking. We could talk about many more related matters, but we will keep to the time.