Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

Last week I spoke about the impending legislation curbing the sale of alcohol, especially in off-licences and supermarkets, and the use of alcohol. While I welcome the new legislation, I believe it must be coupled with a debate that will involve the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, local authorities and education initiatives. Account must be taken also of the rural transport initiative. This is a societal issue, as I have argued many times in this House. We must ask how we curb the sale of alcohol. It cannot be done by legislation alone, as I keep repeating. The responsibility rests with us all and requires interdepartmental thinking.

Before the legislation ever reaches this House, Senators should have the opportunity to discuss the rural transport initiative with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, to hear how it will affect rural life in this country. I am all for anything that will curb binge drinking and tackle that problem. We cannot do it by legislation alone. Nevertheless we must also consider what is happening in rural Ireland. Have we done anything about the rural transport initiative? How will that work? We have all seen ghost towns throughout the country. Unless we do something to curb that as well we are failing the people of all of Ireland. We need to reactivate life in our communities at large. This is a big issue for society. The responsibility rests with all of us to work together along with introducing legislation to tackle this very serious problem. I ask the Acting Leader to investigate having these discussions with the various Departments before legislation comes to the House.