Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Being able to get alcohol and other things until quite late in the evening is one of the amenities of modern life. We should not adopt an over-puritanical zeal. I am reminded of Sir Toby Belch's retort to Malvolio in "Twelfth Night", "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?" On the other hand, we should not encourage uncontrolled consumption and misbehaviour.

As I said at the beginning, legislative proposals of this type are capable of fine tuning. The Minister correctly conceded on the issue of early opening for which a persuasive case was made, although only where it now exists.

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