Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

In the context of the narrow remit of the committee and bearing in mind the serious disturbances that took place in west Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, does the Minister intend to go beyond the remit and consider the matter of the age at which alcohol is available to people? Both the Garda Síochána and the Minister of State in the Minister's Department indicated that one of the difficulties with regard to the situation was that very young children, perhaps as young as ten or 11 years, were indulging on a regular basis in alcohol, which appeared freely available.

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