Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

The Government has been making good strides towards reducing the amount of alcohol that is being consumed in this country. That effort will take a long time, however, and I agree with much of what Senator Norris had to say in this regard. There is a teenage disco near where I live and the children are drinking once they leave their homes to attend it. I do not even know what word to use to describe how the girls are dressed, but it is very inappropriate. The boys, meanwhile, are in tracksuits. I really do not understand where this has all come from or where it will all end. I find it very depressing.

This morning, I heard that Paddy Power have begun installing betting screens in pubs, like televisions whose sole purpose is to display racing odds. It is timely with Cheltenham starting and perhaps it is convenient for some people, but for me this seems like a step too far. Pubs are offering free finger food and free euro bets. They are basically creating a link between drink and betting.