Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am correcting the record as the Senator stated something that was inaccurate.

It is said Irish people have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, but it seems that the Government has a confused alcohol policy. I understand its position to be that it does not have any issue with the consumption of alcohol in principle, yet all we ever hear on public health policy is that we should drink less and be geared towards healthy drinking. If an alien was to land from Mars, it would be confused if it were to consider what we are told under the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and the fact that there is a day on which we say, symbolically or otherwise, that drink is not to be served and which now we are mad keen to get rid of.Senator Leyden should mark my words - in due course he might have another Pauline conversion on the road again and think that we should open on Christmas Day.