David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on the passage of the Bill. It has been a number of years in progress and is very welcome. The Minister showed extraordinary goodwill in meeting objections, reservations and amendments and the lobbying, but, to a large degree, he stood firm and the Bill is a useful addition. However, I am a little confused because it is stated on the list of amendments that the page and line references are to the text of the Bill as passed by Seanad Éireann. What we have been provided with is the text of the Bill as passed by Dáil Éireann, or at least that was the version of the Bill available in the anteroom. It is not a problem and I have been able to work out where the amendments are to be made.

The amendment seems to be perfectly straightforward and reasonable. The more data that are available the better. This is a very important matter as it is not just legislation but attitudes in Ireland that need to change. It is absolutely outrageous that we are prepared to accept the equivalence of Irishness and drunkenness; it is one of our jolly little habits. One hears people on the wireless say they come to Ireland - if Members will excuse the vulgarity - to get "as pissed as newts." They think it is great and people makes jokes about it and think it is terribly funny, but I do not think it is funny at all. I find it is really unpleasant to see people drunk in public. Not only that, I scarcely take the slightest drop of alcohol nowadays since I had a liver transplant. I am very grateful that I was able to have one. The need for it was not related to alcohol, but in a situation where one is not drinking such as at a cocktail party or a reception I can say people become boring, monotonous, repetitive and self-obsessed after only a couple of drinks. I am like that without drink, but others seem to be encouraged by it.