Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I am glad common sense has prevailed and there has been an extension to 10 p.m, although I am not fully in agreement with it because it should be 10 p.m. all year round. Many people with young children go into pubs which serve food at 8 p.m. but they are often told they cannot be served food because they might be there beyond 9 p.m. If one's order is only taken at 8 p.m, one may not be served on time.

I wrote to the Minister in connection with the very successful Comhaltas Ceoltóirí activity of which Senator Ó Murchú would be aware. In the summer, many pubs in the area got people involved in Comhaltas to provide events that would appeal particularly to tourists. These were mainly young people, most of whom would be drinking soft drinks. In many cases they were under 16 years of age. A side effect of the ban, which one would perhaps not have anticipated, was to prevent those people from participating in Comhaltas activities in pubs over the summer. As tourists like to hear traditional music, I wrote to the Minister in the hope that an exception could be made, but the response was that no exception could be made as it is a general regulation and one has to accept it.

It is said there is much pressure nowadays on people to drink. Publicans are complaining of a decline in the sale of alcohol. We all recognise that society has changed and more people drink at home. Many people are also drinking wine, sales of which have increased dramatically.

I was in a well-known Dublin hotel which hosted one of the teams after the all-Ireland final. The place was absolutely mobbed. When I ordered a pint of Guinness at 11.15 p.m, it cost €4.15. However, at 11.30 p.m. when I went up for another few pints, I discovered the price had increased to €4.70. I queried the matter as I had not previously encountered such a practice, at least not in County Limerick. I was surprised to be informed that prices go up at 11.30 p.m. each night. The place was jammed. It was probably the biggest bonanza this hotel would have during the entire year. The people there were predominantly from rural locations. Many people must have been aware of what was going on. We must consider if the industry is going for overkill in regard to prices.

There is no incentive for young people to consume soft drinks in a public house. In most public houses, the combination of a bottle of orange and lemon would cost way in excess of a pint of Heineken or Guinness. When I was growing up people often decided to join the Pioneers and one respected their decision. I wonder how many young people join the Pioneers nowadays, given the tremendous peer pressure they are under. Publicans could do something to incentivise the drinking of soft drinks in public houses. Most of them would admit the profit margins on soft drinks are extremely high.