Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join the leader of my party in this House, Senator Darragh O'Brien, and other colleagues in strongly condemning the reduction in support hours for pupils with special educational needs. Some 42,500 children will be deprived next year of additional teaching supports to which they are entitled. I absolutely condemn that decision.

I support the call by Senator Paschal Mooney and others for a debate on alcohol in our society, not only in terms of sponsorship of sports by alcohol companies but also the abuse of alcohol which is prevalent in all 32 counties of this island. I refer to the 32 counties because if we are to deal with the problem, it must be done on an all-island basis. I am aware, coming from a Border county, that if a law is introduced in this jurisdiction which increases the price of alcohol, one only has to go 7 miles up the road to avoid it. A lack of co-ordination in this regard between North and South will defeat the whole purpose of any initiative this State might introduce. The reality is that people will travel to the North from all over the Twenty-six Counties to avail of cheaper alcohol.

I welcome the comments yesterday by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, in which he encouraged people who want to take a drink to do so in a pub setting. When one is drinking in a pub, one is at least subject to opening and closing hours. Spirits are provided in standard measures and there are only so many pints one can drink, no matter how large one's stomach. I join the Minister in encouraging people to do their drinking in the pub. Moreover, I urge the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to be brave by forgetting about adding a few cent to the price of alcohol in pubs and instead impose a levy of €5 on a bottle of wine. The evidence suggests that wine often features where there is problem drinking in a home setting.

I conclude by asking whether the Leader would agree that we have a very well balanced Government in terms of the number of promises that have been broken by both Fine Gael and the Labour Party.