Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The emergency services and the Garda are bearing the brunt. I am surprised that something like sequential closing has been overlooked. If the clubs, pubs, theatres and so on close at 2.30 a.m., 2 a.m. or earlier, difficulties will arise. The Minister is aware that the intolerable situation in Glasgow of the 1 a.m. spill-out into the streets needed to be revisited. Sequential closing must be examined. In the context of tackling civic disorder, I regret that this option has not been explored. We should revert to the issue.

Fast food outlets pose a difficulty. While I accept that they do not fall under this Bill's remit, the Minister must liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this respect. Irrespective of the time at which pubs close, difficulties will remain if people can continue their night's revelling by filling those outlets and chippers.

Another issue overlooked relates to schemes allowing consumers to gain bonus points for purchasing alcohol. Rewarding people for purchasing alcohol when the purpose of the Bill is to restrict availability should be constrained.

Departments do not have a co-ordinated approach, which will be necessary if we are to tackle alcohol abuse. We are unlikely to succeed unless the Minister engages with other Departments, particularly the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Arts, Sport and Tourism, which is a movable feast. We need a programme of facilities for young people. Failure to tackle boredom in society, particularly among young people, will give rise to a situation in which the best alternative available is to resort to drink. This week in my town of Portlaoise, a skating facility for young people that had been years in the developing was removed from the local authority to house prefabs for a primary school. The school did not have adequate facilities, but where did the prefabs arrive after ten years of the Department's broken promises? They arrived on the skating facilities. This example neatly encapsulates the chaotic approach to relatively straightforward issues. I request co-ordination between the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science, Arts, Sport and Tourism and Health and Children because such an initiative is essential.

While I welcome the legislation overall and it will be supported by Fine Gael on Second Stage, we need an opportunity to address the points raised line by line. I look forward to revisiting them on Committee Stage.

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