Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Hayden's request to set aside time for a more substantial debate on housing. I appreciate we debated a Private Members' motion last night on the matter but motions just produce party political statements. It would be worthwhile to have a more substantive presentation on housing problems and options. There are solutions and ideas which need to be debated more fully. I ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate. Housing is one of the great national problems. A duty of the House of the Oireachtas is to debate national problems. We could be of some assistance to the Government in putting forward ideas.

I also support Senator van Turnhout's comments on the drinks campaign, or whatever it describes itself as.

The drinks industry has sensed a certain degree of weakness on the Government's part following the decision not to pursue a ban on advertising by drinks companies in the context of sports events. That was a fundamental error. There is now a view in certain sectors of the drinks industry that they will be able to browbeat the Government further. We are all aware of the profound problems caused across society by the excessive consumption of alcohol, our greatest social problem which stretches into criminal behaviour, societal and family breakdown and requires an urgent national debate. It is a debate that does not require to be led by the drinks industry but by the Department, the Government, politicians and community leaders. Senator Jillian van Turnhout's views are shared by many of us. The issue is worthy of debate and further consideration.