Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The alcohol strategy planned by the Government has been put off until the new year. This matter is not being handled urgently enough. Recent figures show that the estimated cost of alcohol to the economy is ¤3.7 billion. I understand that matters related to the Budget are very important and need to be sorted out but I must emphasise how urgently this matter needs to dealt with. There are complicated matters in the alcohol strategy that are difficult for us to deal with, for example, sponsorship of certain festivals and sporting events. We need to take a measured approach to this because we do not have the funds to enable us to refuse money from commercial enterprises for such festivals and events. It warrants a debate in this House but, more importantly, we need to get sight of the Government strategy on alcohol and our relationship with it.

It is a very important time of the year for the Garda presence on the roads. None of us would disagree with the argument that the Garda needs to be vigilant in respect of drink driving. It is important that gardaí take a relatively measured approach when it comes to the work they must do at this time of the year in respect of burglaries. I heard of a case recently where the gardaí were pitched on the road at 9 a.m. hoping to catch people on their way to work or somewhere else for speeding or drink driving. Various burglaries had been carried out in the same area the night before. It is very important for the gardaí to be vigilant with regard to burglaries, which are becoming more prevalent in the difficult times we are in.