Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Over the last 30 years, however, we did not hear discussions about the effect of alcohol on young people or the promotion of responsible drinking when Good Friday comes around. Instead, what we hear are the humorous stories of the ingenuity of those seeking to evade the prohibition, heading to train stations, theatres, greyhound stadiums and other sporting venues. It does not serve as a reminder to Christians of what I know is an extremely solemn day in their calendar to see images on the 6 o’clock news of people guzzling down cans of beer on trains and in sports stadiums. The prohibition simply solidifies this "them and us society" which is not reflected in Ireland. So it is time to move on, make the change to the legislation and send this Bill to the Dáil today, so that by next Good Friday, in 2018, Ireland can continue to promote a much more mature attitude to alcohol consumption.