Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I agree with previous speakers on the issue of accident and emergency services. It is shocking that men who present at accident and emergency departments have consumed an average of 15 drinks and women 11 drinks. The statistics are worse for younger ages. It is unacceptable for people to spend over €100 consuming vast quantities of alcohol and expect the health services to bail them out afterwards. We need extra security at accident and emergency departments and I do not envy the task of staff as they try to deal with the pressure of serious medical injuries and drunken patients.

I ask for a debate on the media. Last Monday my town, Carlow, won the Tidy Towns competition but all the coverage was given to towns which lost. Carlow barely got a mention but Ennis received great coverage because it did so badly. I do not refer to just one part of the media because "Five Seven Live", Sky News and RTE 1 were all guilty. To promote tidiness in towns we should highlight the ones that do well and set an example to others. When we listen to the sports results on a Saturday evening we do not hear about the teams that score no goals.