Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

We must accept that is still an issue and we have to find a way to address that. The rural transport initiative, to which the Minister responded favourably by ensuring that the McCarthy report did not eliminate it, could be and should be expanded in that regard. We must be mindful of that. Some people have sought to use, overuse or abuse the case of the person isolated in a rural area by way of trying to work against the introduction of sensible levels of alcohol tolerance and the use of alcohol as a recreational element in life to the detriment of others. It is an important issue but in some cases it has been utilised by others as a front for not changing the status quo and that was unfair. It is a huge issue that is vitally important but it can be overstated for the wrong reason. That is not to undermine the importance of the issue. We have to work with the Government, stakeholders, publicans, liquor licensing trade and the breweries to ensure there is an adequate and appropriate level of transportation to get people home. It is not beyond the realms of possibility to be able to put that in place to ensure that the environment is much safer for all concerned. There is that gap in the middle as we try to work towards it.

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