Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

On the same subject, I welcome a debate on the issue. Of the 45,000 people who attended the concert, many had a good time. I had family members at the event. However, there is an alcohol issue in the country. One of the first steps we could usefully take is to provide an opportunity to invite young people's organisations to the Chamber. We have afforded organisations which wish to abolish the Seanad the opportunity to use this Chamber. We could listen to young people, for a change, and to what they feel are the steps to be taken to assist them to enjoy themselves. Far be it from me, as a relatively young Member of the House, to dictate how I think they should conduct themselves at a concert and whether alcohol should be available to people of certain ages. It would be useful to listen to them. In the earlier part of the autumn, perhaps the Leader can facilitate a debate by selecting a number of organisations representative of younger teenagers and those approaching their late 20s and 30s to inform the House how it can assist them to provide ways to enjoy themselves.

On the issue of below-cost selling, the groceries order was mentioned yesterday. The interference in it by previous Governments was not helpful. One must consider the elimination of the pub throughout Ireland, where barmen and responsible bar managers can control the environment and the level of alcohol being consumed by people. It is a better approach than the cheap below-cost selling by supermarkets used to attract people to buy other goods. If the approach is to be useful, it must start with young people, not with Members.