Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the remarks from Deputy Róisín Shortall. She pointed out that the major conglomerates such as the GAA with Croke Park, and the Aviva Stadium, have worked together with regard to the reduction of alcohol advertising. I am not talking about the alcohol brands in the local papers; I am talking about public houses themselves. Deputy O'Reilly proposed that publicans themselves should be shut out of giving sponsorship any time their name is used. That is what I am getting at. The only time some of these rural pubs in my area get a bonus is when the local club team wins. I recently saw my own club officials tell the young players to hang around the village for a while because the publican supports the club. The youngsters did the formality of having one or two drinks but went on to Cork city afterwards. We have to be careful. I am not talking about brand sponsorship but contributions from publicans themselves or from licensed restaurants. Deputy O'Reilly should pull back on that. I acknowledged that I have no problem with banning the advertisements directed at under-age players. With regard to senior clubs, I am sure when people get past 21 years of age, they have some responsibility. As Deputy Michael Healy-Rae wondered, have we gone over the top with political correctness and do we have no responsibility in rearing our children? Should we pass the buck on to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs? Let us be responsible here.

See this speech in context