Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

Binge drinking has been defined as five drinks in one sitting for a man and four drinks for a woman. The latest EU survey states that 34% of Irish people are usually binge drinkers and that Ireland is followed by England as having the highest level of binge drinking in Europe. The number of off-licenses in Ireland has increased from 600 to 1,800 in seven years. The EU barometer survey conducted in 2007 found that Irish households spend three times more on alcohol than those in other European countries. The National Youth Council of Ireland has said the problem with alcohol is not just a youth issue and that adults are four times more likely to commit public order offences while under the influence of alcohol. I could continue to list statistics for the rest of the hour.

As soon as the group set up by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to examine the issue of alcohol has reported at the end of this month, we should ask the Minister to come to the House to debate alcohol abuse.

On 8 and 9 May there will be an investment conference in the North that will attract many businesses. As Deputy spokesperson on Northern Ireland, and as one who lives in Donegal, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House to discuss how we can maximise the potential from any such conference in respect of regional development and cross-Border co-operation on job creation.