Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The most positive aspect that I can take from it is that the Minister has engaged with the Garda Commissioner to determine whether there are further legislative options that we can consider. There are further options. Every section of our community has rights. No one disputes that, but every section also has responsibilities. A particular section of Mullingar's community is not being appropriately responsible to wider society in its actions. A level of anti-social behaviour has materialised at a licensed premises in recent months and we do not want that one premises to cause reputational damage to our whole town.

I compliment gardaí on intervening as quickly as they did, but they are stretched to their limits. I met the superintendent and asked whether additional resources were needed, to which the response was that all stations needed additional resources because of the reductions in recent years. The superintendent would not say "No" to additional resources. Gardaí also need robust legislation that enables them to enter licensed premises, apply closure orders and go to court to ensure that such premises never reopen, thereby sending a clear message to their wider communities that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

I hope that through the engagement between the Minister, the Department and the Garda Commissioner, we can bring forward proposals to ensure that when behaviour such as I have outlined occurs, the licensed premises in question will no longer continue in operation.

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