Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats)

I wish to praise my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, for having the courage to bring forward this legislation. For many years, successive Ministers have vowed to tackle the problem of excessive under age drinking and failed, either because the measures enacted did not go far enough or were watered down at the behest of certain powerful interest groups. Upon taking office, the Minister pledged himself to tackle the problems and is doing so.

It is ironic that he was lambasted in certain quarters of the media at the beginning of the year for failing to take action and then sharply criticised when he announced his proposals for allegedly trying to censor the nation's fun. The old adage that there is no pleasing some people is no more true than in this case. The criticism that, by trying to curb the excesses of alcohol abuse, the Minister is somehow trying to stop the nation having a good time, is an important one because it demonstrates an underlying weakness in society – that we associate alcohol with fun and enjoyment.

Enjoying a drink is seen as the norm but those who do not drink are almost regarded with suspicion. Family occasions, from birthdays to weddings, christenings to funerals, all revolve around lots of alcohol. If teenagers do not drink, they are not regarded as being part of the crowd.

Some of the debate in the Oireachtas in recent months appeared to treat the problem of alcohol abuse as relatively new – something that appeared alongside mobile phones and the Celtic tiger. However, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that drunkenness and the misuse of alcohol by young people are new. Our culture has always been tainted by its close, cosy relationship with alcohol.