Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Certain contributors have railed at length about the youth of today but I do not believe they are any more prone to excessive drinking than the youth of other generations. There always has been alcohol abuse, among all age groups, and it was a much more serious problem before drink driving legislation was enacted. Most Members will recognise that younger people are more likely not to drink than older generations if they are driving. There are obviously some exceptions but this is generally the case.

We need to consider the effect of licensing laws and look at a much bigger picture. I hope we can do so in the autumn. We should consider trying to create a more — dare I say — European or cosmopolitan culture of alcohol consumption. I agreed with the failed initiative on café bars of former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, who suggested liberalising the licensing regime to ensure places that sold food could also sell alcohol for longer durations. This would encourage smaller venues to open. I take on board Senator Ó Murchú's point on B&Bs. It would be welcome if small family-run establishments were allowed to serve alcohol in a civilised fashion, such that they would be very much in control of who was consuming on their premises. This would be preferable to the current approach.

It is regrettable that this legislation does not adopt alternative approaches and instead provides for tokenistic closure. I have spoken with representatives from the nightclub industry, for whom I hold no brief. As one who used to frequent nightclubs before having babies, I can comment from a punter's perspective on the rolling back of closing times, particularly on Sunday nights. At present, those premises with theatre licences and special exemptions can open until 2.30 a.m. on Sunday night. This is not a night on which many of us choose to go out but it is sometimes the only night on which many of those in the service industry, particularly staff in restaurants, hotels and bars, can go out. It is important that clubs can stay open until 2.30 a.m. and I will table an amendment to this effect.

These are only piecemeal issues as the main issue concerns trying to provide sequential closing times to address public disorder and create the more cosmopolitan culture of which I speak. It is time we considered more genuine reform of the rule that requires nightclubs to operate with unsuitable theatre licences. We need to introduce a nightclub licence of the sort debated in the Dáil.

When we introduce legislation such as this in the absence of more thorough reform of licensing and a more comprehensive address of the problems associated with drink culture, we risk being seen as nanny-state legislators. We are really trying to ensure people will behave in an adult and civilised fashion when consuming alcohol. If clubbers and those who frequent pubs are being treated like children, they will not be able to behave as adults. We need to address this very fundamental issue when addressing licensing laws. I welcome the opportunity for further debate on this.