Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this issue. I acknowledge the work done by the Minister of State and Deputy John O'Mahony and his committee on it. This is a valuable debate in tackling a long-outstanding issue. We are here because the Government is it head-on.

I will begin where Deputy Mick Wallace left off. He referred to the need for joined-up thinking. I could not agree more. Significant work is being done at local level by many people, particularly in the area of sport. I speak as someone with an interest in this issue and who worked for a number of years in the sports and fitness industry as a fitness instructor. I have taken an active interest in sport during the years and seen at first hand people at local level dedicated to supporting and enhancing the overall well-being of young people, children, teenagers and young adults. Not a day goes by without my seeing evidence of this. For example, I left Lucan this morning with great pride because this weekend the village is celebrating participating in its first ever senior county hurling final and the nomination of Peter Kelly, the Dublin hurling full-back, as an All-Star. I mention this because it is an example of how young people are nurtured from an early age. They are coached, advised and cared for and this is something we see every day in the different sports codes.

A few weeks ago I attended a karate exhibition in Clondalkin. I know little about this sport, but I was invited to attend. I was amazed by the level of participation of young children and adults in that sport. Some of the mentors said to me afterwards that it was about keeping kids off the streets. What this says to me is that those working in the interests of these sports and the well-being of children are concerned about keeping children out of the way of temptation. That is where the issue of alcohol comes in. We all know about the binge drinking and the excesses referred to by Deputies Eoghan Murphy and Jerry Buttimer. They are right that it is about excessive drinking.

I attended a conference yesterday held by the Clondalkin drug task force. I was raging it had not been held a day or two previously because although I have a strong view on the use of cannabis, I was stunned to hear some of the evidence produced about its harmful effects. Deputy Mick Wallace alluded to this issue also.

A comment in the report is that the committee accepts that binge drinking and the misuse of alcohol generally are societal problems and on the increase. That is true. On abuse or abuse of alcohol, I cannot remember who it was who said example was not the best way of teaching others but the only way. There is a great deal of truth in that comment. Many would say the societal problem of binge drinking among young people is due to the abuse of alcohol by adults. We are who we learn from. Our society sends too many mixed messages on alcohol. For example, look at the practice at different sports events. I know from experience that a particular sports body allows the consumption of alcohol in the vicinity of the stadium and at the event, while another does not. I have been to our national stadium and heard people say they remembered being there on previous occasions and being able to get a drink but now the bar was closed. There are mixed messages being sent. We must deal with this issue.

Deputy Jerry Buttimer stole my thunder when he spoke so eloquently about our reputation. How many of the people who come to Ireland see us as a nation of drinkers and drunks? We need to find a way to change this image. I do not travel to France often, but I wonder how effective its policy is of not referring to the Heineken Cup except as the H Cup. I am sure it adopted this policy for a good reason, but I do not know what the effect has been in France. However, I am sure that France has made a determined effort to change the message sent.

The Government is serious about dealing with this issue. I acknowledge that a working group has been established, working under the Department of the Taoiseach, and agree that is the right way to go about dealing with the issue. Anybody who thinks it can be resolved by the introduction of a single measure is greatly mistaken. It will take time to resolve it. It will also take a determined effort over time to examine all relevant issues and come up with a solution. We must find a way to fill the gaps mentioned in the debate, but we must send the clearest message on alcohol promotion and continue to support the voluntary and sports bodies that are so keen on supporting young people compassionately. We must nurture the talent of young people such that they can become the Katie Taylors of their sport at national level. We are proud of Peter Kelly from Lucan this morning on receiving his All-Star award. We can enable people to achieve their full potential, but to do this we need to tackle the abuse of alcohol in society.

I am pleased to be able to say a few words in support of the Minister of State, the joint committee and the Government that are dealing with this issue. We have a long way to go, but we have the support of people and groups like the karate club I visited in Clondalkin, as well as Lucan Sarsfields. We are all aware of local, voluntary and sports organisations, youth clubs and other arts and music groups that are working with young people. I would like to think that in the time left in the 31st Dáil we will send these groups and organisations the clear message that their work is not in vain, has not gone unnoticed and will not go unrewarded because the Government will support them. I hope we will get to the day when we can be proud of the many wonderful examples of Irishness and what it is to be Irish, rather than being defined or known as a nation of drinkers or drunks or a nation associated with a particular alcohol beverage.

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