Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important Bill. I have strong views on under-age drinking. The Intoxicating Liquor Bill goes far but not far enough in some areas. Under-age drinking is a considerable problem, not only in cities but also in every town, village and pub in the country. The Government has had numerous opportunities in the past ten years to address it but the problem has worsened. Not only do I refer to a drink culture but also to drug taking by young teenagers who persist into their late teens and early twenties. Had the Government taken this matter by the scruff of the neck some years ago and established structures of redress, the problem would not be as bad as it is.

I agree with some parts of the explanatory memorandum to the Bill, but believe the Government has not gone far enough in others. The fine of €500 for those who fail to give their proper names and addresses to the authorities is short change to many of them. The provision does not extend far enough.

On the granting of liquor licences to petrol stations or off-liccences, the explanatory memorandum states, "When granting a certificate, the District Court may also impose a condition that a CCTV system be installed". This should be mandatory. We all want to tackle under-age drinking but the word "may" is not strong enough. Most public houses now have CCTV cameras installed. It should be mandatory that such cameras be installed at counters and other points of sale in off-licences, supermarkets and other locations where alcohol is for sale. This would strengthen the law in trying to prevent under-age drinking and making alcohol freely available to those who are under age.

Deputy Flanagan listed statistics, one of which indicates that there was a 57% increase in the number of public order offences between 2003 and 2007. No Deputy would disagree. I regularly speak to my local superintendent and local gardaí in villages throughout County Wexford who tell me many public order offences are not reported because those affected believe the Garda has its hands tied, is unable to help or does not have the time or energy to solve the problem. Moreover, one can see an increase in general thuggery, robberies or whatever, all of which comes down to anti-social behaviour. Much anti-social behaviour in estates happens late at night when such people are filled with drink and have no fear of consequences.

Although I am almost certain the Minister has rowed back on the proposal to restrict the sale of alcohol to a separate part of a shop, I make the point that many such shops are stuck for space. Were I to enter my local branch of Dunnes Stores in Enniscorthy at a time when alcohol is not for sale, that section would be railed off. That is a good idea as people then know alcohol is not for sale because it is out of hours. The Minister should seriously consider the possibility of obliging off-licences and supermarkets in particular that gain wine or spirit licences to rail off the shelving after closing time or when they are obliged to desist from selling alcohol.

I revert to my original point, which is that while the Bill has gone far, it has not gone far enough.

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