Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

A previous speaker noted that people are being disgorged onto the streets at 4 a.m. Given that the Minister indicated this should not be happening, I ask him to consider a requirement to display opening hours on a plaque which would be mounted outside pubs.

It was also suggested that a certification process similar to the good food guides should be developed for pubs and nightclubs. The majority of pubs observe the rules but, even if people do not see the equivalent of Egon Ronay's guides, at least they will be able to make an informed decision. I note that another voluntary code will be introduced to regulate the provision of separate areas for alcohol. I ask the Minister to ensure the review mechanism is strong and that the voluntary code is seen to be not only something to which people have signed up but which they will enact.

While closed circuit television systems are great, I am told CCTV footage is not admissible as evidence in court. Perhaps the Minister will consider tightening up the provisions in this regard. It is said that the camera never lies; if that is so, surely such CCTV footage should be admissible as evidence.

It is important people engaged in general supermarket work and in the sale of alcohol receive training in respect of the new provisions. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure employers train their staff in this regard. This will ensure they understand they will be dismissed if they sell alcohol to minors. This is the standard we should seek to achieve. I have been told that tills are so sophisticated nowadays they will not register the bar code on alcohol products being sold on Sundays. While technology can assist in regard to the timing of the sale of alcohol, staff need to be trained and to be made aware of the consequences of their actions in this regard.

Theatre licences are to be abolished under this legislation. The licensing year commences in September. Will current theatre licences be valid until September or will they expire on enactment of this legislation? Perhaps the Minister will address, in his concluding remarks, the uncertainty in this regard. We are all aware of the situation in regard to polydrug abuse.

There are two further issues I wish to raise in the time available. I live in a Border area. If it remains possible that people can purchase alcohol cheaper in the North by way of clubcard points or the practise of below-cost selling then many people on the Border will buy in the North. This will further undermine the industry. I ask that the Minister work with his colleagues in the North, who are also struggling to address the issue of alcohol misuse and abuse, to ensure the two sides are working towards the same goal. If this does not happen, publicans will suffer because cheaper alcohol will be bought and consumed elsewhere.

I accept provision is made in the legislation for the Garda to take alcohol from persons under 18 years of age. However, a number of gardaí to whom I have spoken do not believe this measure is as effective as ensuring persons under 18 years of age know they should not be consuming alcohol. I welcome that it will be an offence for persons under 18 years of age caught with alcohol in their possession to pass that alcohol to an adult or other person over 18 years of age. However, I believe we must ensure the penalty in this regard is more severe than his or her simply being referred to the juvenile liaison system, the administrative cost of which is enormous. It should be possible to provide in the Children's Act, for example, that parents may be fined when a child commits such an offence.

Every Saturday, people in my area are left to clean up the mess of broken glass and bottles left behind by under-age drinkers. If the people who make the mess were required under the criminal justice system, by way of community service, to clean up after them they might encourage their peers not to get involved in this type of activity. We could utilise the penalty of community service in respect of boy-racing and other offences. This could be supervised by FÁS scheme supervisors who are already trying to address some of these issues. I am aware there are insurance implications in respect of the collection of broken glass. However, citizens and members of Tidy Towns organisations have to do it while those responsible get off scot-free.