Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will clarify his comments reported in a newspaper (details supplied) to the effect that tourists tend to avoid like the plague occasions such as the scenes of public drunkenness that occurred in central Dublin on Saint Patrick's Day in 2004; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that this image of Ireland does not become the norm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15374/04]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 143 of 6 April 2004, which referred to the disturbances which occurred in the aftermath of the St. Patrick's Festival last March. In the newspaper article to which the Deputy refers, I referred to the scenes of public drunkenness, saying visitors tend to avoid such occasions, but I qualified my remarks by indicating that Ireland compared favourably with most other European destinations "in terms of the individual coming in and having a peaceful time."

It goes without saying that the kind of unacceptable behaviour and conduct we witnessed after the St. Patrick's Day Festival was unhelpful and could tarnish the festival's good international reputation. I was also seriously concerned that it could undermine the efforts of the State tourism agencies in promoting Ireland as an attractive tourist destination, as it was certainly not in keeping with the welcoming image being portrayed in our tourism promotional literature and, in particular, attendance at festivals and other cultural events here in Ireland.

I have already raised my concerns with the chairperson of the St. Patrick's Festival Company, who has overall responsibility for the organisation and promotion of the festival. I have been assured that the company will liaise closely with the Garda Síochána, the city council and the other relevant authorities with regard to all aspects of its planning for 2005 and beyond, with a view to minimising the possibility of a recurrence of this kind of behaviour on the streets.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I take the point the Minister makes but St. Patrick's Day is the day we celebrate our Irishness. What happened in central Dublin on that occasion was no credit to us. There was a high level of drunkenness among some participants and surely there is some way to curtail drinking on the scale which occurred then. We have had other incidents of violence and robbery also and it is time to nip this behaviour in the bud, as such behaviour tends to grow if it is not stopped.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The festival company will liaise closely with the Garda to ensure incidents similar to the thuggish incidents which occurred during and after the festival do not occur. I understand the position will be closely monitored and I assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that disruption is eliminated.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that what happened on St. Patrick's Day happens on most weekends of the year in many flash points in the country? The action he proposes to take for St. Patrick's Day could surely be applied to other flash points like Temple Bar, Limerick and elsewhere.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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I acknowledge the Minister cannot take responsibility for the anti-social behaviour which takes place throughout the year. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform should deal with that, though he does not. Has the Minister ever realistically considered the possibility of changing St. Patrick's Day to some time in the summer, when the days are longer and the day would be more family-friendly and more easily policed? I know this idea was touted during the foot and mouth disease crisis and it is an option that would be within the remit of the Minister's Department.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been on 17 March and I would no more attempt to change that date than change the date of Christmas Day.

On Deputy Deenihan's question, there has been a fairly significant fall-off in public order offences. Naturally the Government is anxious that such offences are stamped out completely.