John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

The intention behind the Bill is laudable and I do not think anyone would dispute it. It is undesirable for young people to be exploited or be unduly exposed to the drinks trade at an impressionable age.

I take the point the Minister has made, which is an important one. In any business, irrespective of whether it is the licensed trade or otherwise, it is important for young people to come into the business through employment during school holidays and so on. Whether this applies to farming or otherwise, it is difficult to generate interest if children do not grow up in the business.

Senator O'Toole said earlier that he could remember pulling pints in Dingle and Senator Minihan spoke about working in his grandfather's pub in west Cork. All this has been a standard feature of, at least, country life. On a recent Saturday morning, I watched a rugby international in a small pub in Leenane. I went into the pub reasonably early in the morning—