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

I am worried about visitor centres and the adverse effect what is proposed might have on visitors when they see these signs as they enter various places. I am concerned for small breweries, such as Killarney brewery and the Dingle Brewery Company, that it will affect them adversely or reverse the progress that has been made and the jobs that they have provided. If one goes back six years to when the Dingle Brewery Company started up, there were not many jobs in Dingle at that time. The people there are glad of the employment that the brewery provides all year round. They are also glad that it has become a tourist attraction. What is proposed in the Bill will have an adverse effect on those people and on jobs in Dingle. Likewise, any time I pass the Killarney brewery on the Muckross Road there seems to be a crowd being taken on a tour of the place. It is proper that I record my concern, on behalf of the people who have developed those businesses and their employees.

There is no need for this. It will have no beneficial effect for the youngsters. When this Bill was being drawn up first, it was to help prevent the abuse of alcohol by youngsters and binge drinking. I cannot see what is the connection between binge drinking and tourists coming like that to our country who for one hour may visit these places. It is ridiculous. What the Government is doing is preposterous. These visitors may even only stay for a half an hour. I do not know how this is to be of any benefit in stopping underage drinking or excessive drinking. I do not see that it serves any purpose or that it will have any real effect.

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