Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I am loth to repeat what has already been said. I agree in particular with the points made by Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú and Michael Mullins on the events in the Phoenix Park at the weekend. I take this opportunity to express my sympathies to the families of those affected. Nobody expects a young person who goes out in the evening to attend a concert not to return home. In my professional life I often defend nightclub and pub owners who are sued when a person is seriously injured on their premises. Notwithstanding the frequent debates on the broader issue of alcohol abuse, the deaths at the weekend must serve as a serious wake-up call to all of us in this House. We cannot have a situation where young people have such easy access to cheap drink and drugs that they can get themselves out of their mind to the extent that they will treat other people any which way. Such behaviour presents a serious threat to the person engaging in it, to others and to society.

We must have a zero-tolerance approach on this issue. It has worked in New York and can do so here. I urge the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to discuss possible legislative solutions to deal with the problem. Senator Rónán Mullen got to the nub of the matter in his suggestion that this is not something children are picking from the trees. Rather, they see older people behaving in an inappropriate away because of excess alcohol consumption. It is learned behaviour which is cultivated and promoted among younger people. I have spoken about this issue numerous times. We have already held a Private Members' session on the below-cost selling of alcohol. I back up the comments of Senator Mullins in this regard. The multiples are running rings around us and we need to take control of the issue. There may be a loss of money to the Exchequer. We are broke at the moment and we need the money but that is a minor issue compared with the fact that people can go into supermarkets, see stacks of drink everywhere, bring it home and stuff themselves with it. They can end up in hospital and endanger other people. I am passionate about this issue. We need to get the Minister in here to discuss it as a matter of urgency.