Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)

They must find one big enough somewhere, reopening one if necessary. Those who are leading our young people astray must be put away.

Having been involved in this area and been in a pub, I have seen how young people can enjoy a few drinks. It is when drugs come into play later in the night that they cannot be handled. That is one objection I have to the new proposal for nightclubs to open for an extra hour late at night. It would be better having people go out at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. rather than having them stay out until 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. and then supposedly be able to get up and work. They are not able to do so and go back to drinking, at which stage they get involved with drugs and so on.

As a new Deputy, I firmly believe we do not put enough resources into supporting the young who are all good people. It is very easy to knock them since they do not come out to vote but they need help. They must be protected from the criminals who make massive sums from them. At Christmas or any other time gardaí are on the beat, some might not like it.

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