Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

No one has a problem with that. The House is also obliged to provide for a modern generation of young Irish people the opportunities to which they are entitled. The House has an obligation to put before those people a real choice. They should not have to choose between beer and food as is currently the case. We have the opportunity to adopt a more continental approach, to be brave and to put our bow into the wind instead of being frightened by vested interests and others and cajoled into doing nothing. We know what the problems are.

It is not an answer to the case for the reform of licensing laws to say we should have sports facilities.

See this speech in context