Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

She made a good speech yesterday in the United States. The Senator is correct in saying that the more we speak about it the more we highlight the problem. It is not that alcohol is bad, but rather that the abuse of alcohol is bad. We are all being led to be furtive about drinking a glass of wine or whatever. There is no need to be furtive about that. Alcohol in moderation is good for one. I am not a doctor, but I believe that to be the case. The abuse of alcohol is wrong and, as the Senator stated, it leads to a lack of competitiveness.

Senator Maurice Hayes supported Senator Brian Hayes's call for a merger of the scouting organisations and referred to its potential for the development young people. He referred to the provision of public money under national lottery or youth funding. I could be wrong about both organisations receiving such funding, but I know that one receives considerable public moneys.