Seanad debates

Thursday, 3 April 2003

I have not had sight of the commission's report which I presume we will all receive. The idea has been brought forward to introduce small café style establishments where one could have a beer or a glass of wine, chat and make arrangements to meet somebody in an intimate atmosphere, as happens elsewhere in Europe where people are far more acclimatised to having a drink from a very early age en famille or dealing with drink in such an environment. Such a move to people frequenting that style of establishment would involve a major sea change, about which Senator Dooley talked. To change people's attitudes from going out to drink solid in order to get drunk to going out to meeting or hoping to meet a friend or two in a café style establishment where one could have a drink and perhaps a snack, talk to people in a convivial intimate atmosphere would be a major jump. This concept is an important one, the timing of which is well overdue. Most people have travelled to various countries and would appreciate such an atmosphere. I appreciate that they would have enjoyed the sunshine and that it would have been a happy holiday time but we can make such an atmosphere part of our lives. Such establishments would be far more comforting than the super pubs.

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