Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I add my voice to the calls for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House to discuss the announcement he made yesterday on the regulation of the sale of alcohol. Some time between Christmas and Easter I asked that we would debate the report of the alcohol advisory group as soon as it was published.

I draw the Leader's attention to initiatives such as "Banned" in Bangor, County Down, which involves the banning of people involved in anti-social behaviour from the town. The aim is to protect the commercial life of the town and ensure people feel it is a safe place in which to drink and socialise. It appears to be working well and perhaps we should examine it further. I heard of another scheme on "Morning Ireland" this morning, called "Club Cork" which we also should examine.

I ask the Leader to indicate when the Student Support Bill will be before the House. This morning the USI stated it would be difficult to bring forward the date of application for grants to 1 May because most students are in the middle of exams at that time. I suggested the application for grants should be made at the same time as the application for admission to college or university, which would be in February. However, the USI pointed out that information is not being released from the Department early enough. We should have a debate on issues such as that and examine whether it would be possible to amalgamate the applications for grants with the applications for entry to colleges so that students receive their grants as early as possible.