Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008 and thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in this regard. This Bill certainly is a small step in the right direction by the Government towards controlling the supply of alcohol to the public and certainly is not before its time. As Members are aware, major problems arise nationwide, at weekends in particular, on many of our main streets. Much binge drinking takes place, both by young people and those of all other age groups. Binge drinking certainly can lead to public disorder and to problems on our streets, particularly after the closure of the nightclubs or late pubs when everyone congregates on the streets at the same time. As there has been a 35% increase in the number of off-licences from 2003 to 2005, it is no wonder statistics show there has been an increase of 17% in alcohol consumption in the past ten years. As alcohol is so readily available, many more public order offences are being committed at weekends. All Members can pinpoint black spots in their constituencies, where problems take place and where the Garda must maintain a presence in large numbers, particularly late on Friday and Saturday evenings. In the absence of sequential closing times, this problem is set to continue.

The attitude and tolerance in Ireland towards drink and the drinking culture must change dramatically if we wish to stop accident and emergency wards being clogged up by drunks. At weekends, accident and emergency units in particular experience a much greater volume of people, some of whom, unfortunately and sadly, are young people who arrive in a particularly bad state and who must be looked after by the medical staff. This issue must be examined.

The Bill certainly is a positive step towards changing things for the better in society and contains many positive elements. However, there are blatant omissions from the Bill that Members from the Fine Gael Party will seek to have included on Committee Stage. I note the sale of alcohol in off-licences will be restricted to the hours of 10.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and St. Patrick's Day, off-licences will open from 12.30 p.m. and will close at 10 p.m. However, we appear to experience many more public order offences on St. Patrick's Day than on other days, particularly in Dublin. A former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Michael Conaghan, attempted to close off-licences a few years ago because of the ready supply of alcohol and all the problems and public order offences that take place on St. Patrick's Day. Perhaps the possibility of more restrictive hours could be considered, particularly on Ireland's national feast day, which seems to turn into a drink festival for many young people.

I am glad to see that under section 5, an applicant for a wine off-licence will now have to obtain a District Court certificate. This is currently the case for beer or spirit off-licence owners, and it is good to see this anomaly closed off in the Bill. Section 8 relates to the structural separation of alcohol products from other products in commercial premises, particularly those engaged in mixed trading. A separation is badly needed. We have all received feedback that the cost factor is a major issue for convenience stores, especially with costs up to €50,000 per annum to keep the alcohol in a separate section in the shop. We will be looking for more of a turnstile approach, which seems to be the case in Northern Ireland, rather than forcing traders to redefine their shops completely. In many supermarkets, alcohol is displayed in one's face as one walks in the front door. One should not have to walk past all the alcohol to get to the groceries section.

A national identification card is needed in this area. We oppose the test purchase of alcohol until such a system is brought in. Young people should not have to use passports, as many of them lose their passports when they go to pubs and clubs. By introducing a national ID card, we will ensure there is less of a risk of that happening.

Sequential closing times are not addressed at all in the Bill. We need to look at that, as the vast majority of public offences occur when people come onto the streets of our towns and cities at the same time. There is no evidence that early houses are causing these problems, rather it is our late pubs and nightclubs.

This Bill is very welcome. The area of binge drinking needs to be examined. There are some good points, but there are also omissions in the Bill, and we will be trying to rectify that on Committee Stage. We also look forward to the forthcoming sale of alcohol Bill.

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