Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

When are we going to get serious about this issue? We cannot, on the one hand, talk about the health service, how much it is costing us and cost overruns, and, on the other, ignore the fact that the abuse of alcohol is a significant cause of the problem now and will be into the future. It is not just the harm to family, friendship and career that is involved but it is its impact on criminality, teenage pregnancy and family breakdown. We have to ask whether it is appropriate for Ministers to endorse an event like Arthur's Day.