Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today is Arthur's Day. I have no doubt about the economic benefit to pubs around the city and country with its arrival on the scene. It is to be welcomed by Guinness because the brand has been somewhat in decline in recent years so it is positive from that perspective. However, I have serious reservations as to whether we needed another day with an excuse to go drinking. It starts at one minute before 6 p.m. Some gong goes off and everybody has to be in the pub and raise their glass to Arthur or Martha or whoever.

However, last year and the year before I witnessed people who were ossified on a Thursday evening when they clearly had work the next day. I wonder if it is really necessary when, on St. Patrick's Day and so many other days we drink to excess. I have seen people behaving in a most inappropriate manner on such days. It would be more our business to come up with other days that could be celebrated in this country without an emphasis on drink.

I agree with Senator Quinn's concern about the injuries board. I have experience of working with the board on a daily basis and when a matter is in any way complicated it tends to be pushed back into the legal process, which I should probably welcome as a lawyer. It is something we could usefully debate in this House, as well as the area of medical negligence raised by Senator Colm Burke. It is a hugely complex area and it would not be a small task for the injuries board to take on that work, but it is something we should perhaps consider.