Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann,

concerned by:

—plans by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to increase the number of outlets selling alcohol by providing licences for the opening of café bars;

—the strong opposition to such plans expressed by leading health professionals and their consistent advice and evidence that greater supply of alcohol leads to greater consumption; and

—the lack of clear evidence that café bars will contribute to a reduction in the level of excessive drinking prevalent in Irish society;

calls on the Government to:

—abandon the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's plans for licensing café bars;

—put in place a co-ordinated approach at Government level to the preparation and implementation of a national alcohol strategy; and

—provide the necessary resources and direction to the Garda to ensure that existing legislation is enforced and public disorder related to so-called super pubs is tackled in a consistent way throughout the country.

I wish to share time with Deputies Twomey, Hayes, Pat Breen and Kehoe.

In the past few days, we have witnessed a significant and embarrassing public display of division and ineptitude within and between the parties in Government. It is a disgrace that it takes a Fine Gael Private Members' motion and the threat of 40 Fianna Fáil backbenchers crossing the floor——

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