Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I agree with Senator Bannon in that the Minister for Health and Children should come to the House to debate the health aspect of increasing the potential sales of alcohol. It would be a disaster for the community at large. We witness more anti-social behaviour every week. Local newspapers are full of court cases almost all of which are alcohol-related. Making alcohol even more freely available would only add to the problem. It would be a disaster in rural areas. The Minister should consider transferring bar licences from depopulated to populated areas and ensure the proper distribution of licences. There was no need to go down this road in the first place.