Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I take grave exception to this amendment. I will give an example of what might happen if we take this to its ultimate conclusion. Hairdressers were mentioned and many people attend them. Let us take the opening day of a new hairdresser premises. If people are invited to the launch, and taking this proposal to its ultimate conclusion, it could be wrong to offer a drink to would-be customers of that new business because under this proposal the alcohol would be free and given on the premises. This is a case of people gone mad with political correctness. For God's sake, if a person is attending the launch of a new business where somebody wants to treat him or her to a bottle of beer or a glass of wine, what in the name of goodness is wrong with that? This is the total demonisation of alcohol. We all want responsible intake of alcohol but what do people actually want to do? Do they want every public house in the country to close down? Do we want to shut our small breweries that give much needed employment in each of our counties?

I am proud that in the county I represent we have small business people who have started up breweries. I think of Killarney and Dingle. The highest quality gin and craft beer is being made. It is a product that is safe and nice for people to taste, be they visitors or locals. Do we want to close down these businesses? Do we want to do away with the alcohol industry? Enough bars and public houses have closed. I have repeatedly said that the best people to administer the sale of alcohol are the responsible publicans, whether they are people who own public houses or any other licensed premises. What is being proposed here in respect of giving away free beer, free wine or otherwise concerns something that only happens on certain occasions. If this is taken to its ultimate conclusion, it will lead to the most serious and stupid situation.

If somebody wants to treat a person to a drink in a premises on a street, that could be deemed to be wrong and illegal. That is crazy.

We are losing the run of ourselves. I am merely talking common sense. Every person in this House wants sensible and safe use of alcohol. Are we saying we want to demonise the industry and to shut it down, which will cost thousands and thousands of jobs? The hoteliers, publicans and restaurateurs are people I know who are working in their communities, creating much-needed employment. Those people are looking on in horror at what is going on with this Bill. They are asking whether politicians have lost the run of themselves completely, and are wondering if we have forgotten from where we come. We want people to be safe and do not want them to abuse alcohol, but are we saying we do not want them to touch a drop of alcohol again, whether it is for free or whether they have to buy it? This proposal is crazy.

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