Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment on the abuse of alcohol which has been raised in the House on many occasions for as long as I can remember. We usually have such a debate in the wake of a fatality. I have commented on this fact before that it takes a fatality at the weekend and then we have a debate. At any time it is a tragedy for parents to lose a young child but it is harrowing to watch parents on television trying to make sense of what has happened. Their pride and joy goes out for a night's entertainment and later they hear the dreaded knock on the door to tell them that the young life has been snuffed out as a result of the abuse of alcohol.

The Taoiseach and the Ministers have come out promptly to condemn this abuse but we know the same debate and concerns will be expressed over and over again. The main reason for that is that we are not prepared to tackle the dread and the terrible malaise that goes with the subject of alcohol abuse. Members will remember the debate we had on the ban on smoking in public places. There was an outcry initially about that but everyone now agrees it was the right thing to do. Smoking was a major health issue and we know that to be the case. We also know that if one were to debate that issue with people now they could not even remember the opposition to that ban when it was brought in. The same fundamental approach needs to be taken to this issue, although not in respect of the banning of alcohol in public places. We need to bring in legislation to deal not only with the low pricing of alcohol but with this issue which is causing anti-social behaviour, threatening people's security and, above all, resulting in the loss of young lives.

The same issue applies to alcohol advertising. There should be no glamorising of drink - it is as simple as that - be it in advertising or in programmes. We can remember a time when people were seen smoking in every film we watched or in a studio during the broadcasting of a programme. That no longer happens. That practice went quietly and it is now finished. The exact same thing must happen with the glamorising of drink. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to come into the House for a broad-based discussion not only for us to express our concerns but to see what we can do to prevent what is happening. I am shocked every time I watch BBC programmes that show camera footage of what happens on the streets after people leave nightclubs. It would outrage people. That is where we are at with this problem and we must do something about it.