Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill and its proposals, which I see as very important in our changing society. We have heard many comments on the measures proposed in this Bill, most of which are welcoming. I am encouraged by the broad recognition that legislation is required to restrict the availability of alcohol and that restricting alcohol is not only desirable for the future, but absolutely vital for the progression of Irish society.

Simply put, far too many people in Ireland have far too great a dependence on alcohol and this is leading to misuse. Those lucky enough to have avoided dependency on alcohol are still amenable to binging or heavy drinking sessions. Ireland has the highest rate of alcohol consumption in the EU, with average consumption at 21 units per week in people over the age of 15, and this is not taking into account the 20% of adults who do not drink at all. Irish drinkers regularly consume five or more drinks in one sitting.

These statistics make it easy to see where our young are getting their habits. Our young people are starting to drink, and drink heavily, at far too young an age. The negative consequences of this, combined with the misuse of drugs, can be seen on our streets daily. Groups of youngsters, who are clearly drunk, litter our open spaces and engage in what is primarily harmless but still intimidating behaviour. Sadly, more often these days, this behaviour tips over into criminal anti-social behaviour and not just alcohol-related harm.

It is worth noting that half of 15 to 17 year olds admit to being regular drinkers, with one third admitting to being "really drunk" in the last 30 days. This is a stark figure when one thinks of the recently completed State examination and the upcoming results. Occasions such as these generally result in heavy all-day drinking sessions, starting at midday and ending in the early hours of the morning.

However, as the CSO suggests, young people are not the only ones taking advantage of the easy availability of alcohol. The National Youth Council has been lobbying on this Bill and has advertised the shocking and surprising statistic that adults are five times more likely to be convicted of drink related crimes than under age drinkers. Accident and emergency departments are filling up with people incapacitated by alcohol and this has been attributed to weekend overcrowding in hospitals. Over a quarter of all injuries treated in accident and emergency departments are alcohol related. Approximately 36% of fatal car accidents are caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Our hospital wards are full of people suffering from illnesses to which our modern alcohol-loving lifestyles have contributed. Obesity, diabetes, heart attacks and blood disease are all on the increase because of the lifestyle we as Irish people are adopting, which includes a great deal of alcohol.

The Garda Síochána is dedicating an unprecedented amount of hours to dealing with public order offences and drink related crimes. It is estimated that half of our homicide cases are alcohol-related. Indeed, between 1999 and 2005 the rate of alcohol-related offences doubled, while among juveniles, the incidence trebled.

Our love-affair with alcohol is reaching epidemic proportions. I am not in any way suggesting our society is falling apart. Nor do I believe alcohol is an evil responsible for everything that is wrong in Ireland. However, the consumption of alcohol and its excessive availability is damaging our society beyond what is healthy and this Bill will help prevent further injury.

The Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008 adopts proposals from the alcohol advisory group and seeks to tackle the availability and excessive consumption of alcohol. The concerns of the Government were shared by a variety of stakeholders, from the National Youth Council to the Irish Medical Organisation and even the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland. The former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, must be commended for spearheading the research of the advisory group and ensuring the quick delivery of this Bill. Credit must also be given to Dr. Gordon Holmes for leading the advisory group.

This Bill should be viewed as a step in the right direction. It represents a step towards redressing the imbalance in our lives caused by alcohol. The Bill tackles one of the largest roots of the problem, namely alcohol accessibility. Sadly, education alone is not sufficient to stem the growing problem of alcohol related harm. Hopefully this Bill and the upcoming sale of alcohol Bill will address this epidemic.

The biggest difference will be made by the restrictions which will be placed on off-licence sales. I represent one of the youngest constituencies in Ireland, Dublin North, where it is common for me to receive complaints of under age drinkers setting up for the night in local parks, green spaces and beaches. They come equipped with cans of beer and naggins of spirits and become rowdier as the night goes on. I also receive complaints about adults congregating in apartments whose behaviour becomes noisier and more reckless as they drink. These are the scenarios which often end in violence and disorder. These two groups have not started the night in the pub. Their alcohol was bought in the supermarket or the local off-licence. By restricting off-licence trading by three hours in the morning and two and half hours at night, the Bill will put to bed the after-pub visit which often ends in violence. I appeal to the Minister to ban home deliveries by off-licensed premises. I have had quite a number of complaints about so-called dial-a-can. This issue must be tackled.

I would like to see provision in the Bill for staggered closing hours of local pubs. As a Deputy representing Dublin North, I am concerned about the number of late night pubs and clubs operating in the places like Swords. Staggering closing times would cut out seemingly harmless occurrences like street congestion and taxi queuing. Circumstances where 400 or 500 people pour out on to the streets, all wanting to avail of the same taxis and takeaways at the same time, often lead to violence and need to be avoided at all costs.

I also welcome the measures requiring supermarkets and convenience stores to force customers doing their shopping to go to a separate cash register in a separate area of the supermarket to buy their alcohol. I imagine that the expectation here is that people will put far more thought into their alcohol shopping rather than simply stuff bottles of wine into their shopping trolleys. The segregation of alcohol from other groceries will also be effective in the identification of under age drinkers. As alcohol will only be permitted for sale in these separated areas, there is no possibility of young people "smuggling" beer through with their basket of groceries. I am glad that the Minister has met with the supermarket groups and other small trading groups. I believe a code of practice, which is being proposed by these groups, will be a welcome alternative. This illustrates the shopkeepers' willingness to work with the Government to tackle under age drinking and I welcome it.

I also welcome the provision for test buying. For too long, under age drinkers have succeeded in persuading off-licences to sell them alcohol. Worse still, many off-licences simply turn a blind eye to older teenagers. The provision in the Intoxicating Liquor Bill for test purchasing will ensure vigilance among off-licences and provide younger staff who, obviously, face peer pressure with a valid excuse not to sell to their under age friends. It will also put power into the hands of members of the public to refuse to buy alcohol for young drinkers.

In the same vein, I welcome the enacting of Garda powers which will allow officers to remove alcohol from young drinkers or from anyone they believe likely to engage in an act of public disorder. There has been too much ambiguity in this area until now and it is essential that we incorporate that move. The fact that the offence can be punished immediately by a fine will be a relief to gardaí and serve as a real benefit to the courts system in reducing the number of court cases.

I am also relieved that the loophole allowing clubs and pubs to operate under theatre licences will be closed. It is shocking that over 100 similar licences were applied for in the first three months of this year. These licences perpetuate the heavy drinking culture in our cities, allowing revellers to go from pub to club to late night club before arriving home in the early hours of the next day. Similarly, I welcome the requirement on bars and clubs to install CCTV cameras where alcohol is being consumed, thereby ensuring that proceedings are constantly recorded.

I echo the call for a national ID card, on which I have made statements previously. A national card would go a long way towards eliminating under age drinking if it was the only means of ID requested of someone suspected of being under age. My colleagues on the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights might consider fining parents for criminal damage caused by their children.

I have already mentioned the fear caused by young people hanging around at night and these fears are not always unfounded. Much vandalism and criminal damage is undertaken and it is time someone other than the local authority or the victims themselves paid for it. Anti-social behaviour is the most significant issue I have encountered in my constituency. With the summer months approaching, speedy passage of this Bill is essential. The greatest fear of most residents is seeing young people bringing their cans on to the local open space, into parks or, in my case, on to the beach during the long evenings, drinking and becoming rowdy. Unfortunately, this often results in damage and attacks on people.

I mentioned the issue of parental control. Parents have an important role to play. Quite often, we see young children out on the streets at 11 p.m., 12 a.m. or perhaps later. Obviously, their parents do not know where they are and it would seem that they do not care either. As a society, we must try to address this issue and make parents responsible for their children, ensure they know where they are and endeavour to keep them under control. Fining parents for criminal damage caused by their children's actions is one way of getting parents to seek to find out where their children are.

Regulations regarding advertising and alcohol promotions, such as two for one promotions, are essential. I appeal to everybody in the House to allow the speedy passage of this Bill to ensure it is law before the summer.

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