John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would be obliged if I could continue. There is a lot of evidence about how the hand goes out when one sees something beside something else. If there is no evidence, let us find that out, but I am very clear that there is. We need to go from what is my belief about something to stay with the evidence as far as we go. After that it is actually not about beliefs; it is about us making the best collective judgment we can in this House, no more than a jury would do. One looks at all the stuff and it does not turn out to be a pure science; people have to honestly make a judgment. That is the space we are collectively in. It is particularly the eye of the storm that the Minister and his officials are in.

The Alcohol Health Alliance comprises more than 40 organisations. Has it got everything right? I do not know. However, it is a proxy for the public interest, particularly the interest of the next generations.

It was more than symbolic that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs was here this evening and I very much welcome her statement.