Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Kitt for agreeing to share time with me. I would like to make a couple of points about off-licences. There has been an explosion in the proliferation of off-licences in the centre of Dublin city and its suburbs in recent years. Furniture shops and small tea shops have been turned into off-licences overnight. I know of a substantial property in the Phibsboro area that was being used to sell property in Spain, but was converted into a full off-licence overnight.

Shopping centre developments seem to have large off-licence outlets attached to them as a matter of course. I do not think that the regulation of such outlets, which are very open, is as strict as the regulation of ordinary off-licences, such as an off-licence that is attached to a pub. There are issues in that regard. I have spoken to the Minister about the sale of alcohol from retail outlets at garage forecourts. We are spending serious money on trying to convince people not to drink and drive, but we are not doing much to discourage the sale of alcohol from off-licences located at garage forecourts. I do not suggest that we are encouraging people to drink and drive.

I welcome the timely changes being made in the regulations. The Minister has spoken about the consequences and effects of the abuse and misuse of alcohol, particularly among young people. Adults are to blame in many cases because they purchase alcohol for young people in off-licences. It is a matter of regulation. The key aspect is to continue to control the proliferation of off-licences. I bow to Senator Kitt's knowledge and expertise in the area of turf. As a city boy, I always thought it automatically came in briquette form. I thank the Minister for his views, particularly on off-licences.