Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Order of Business as just outlined. I will start off with a very positive story. A young woman from Westport, Shannon Sweeney, won a bronze medal at the European Elite Boxing Championships last week. A homecoming event was held in Mayo on Sunday. I congratulate her and her very proud coach, Mr. Martin Brennan. I know that a lot of work over many years, not just by Shannon but by the team around her and the boxing club in Westport, went into getting her into a position where she had an opportunity to win a medal. Her fantastic performance in the event meant that she won the bronze medal. We have had some fantastic successes in female boxing in recent weeks and it is great to see the sport doing so well. Katie Taylor paved the way but so many young women are now following in her footsteps. It is great to see. I wish Shannon Sweeney and her family well.

The recent announcement by the Minister for Justice of proposals to change the licensing laws is broadly welcome, although a significant amount of concern is being expressed across the board, including by An Garda Síochána. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, has acknowledged that reform is needed but it is concerned about how it will be managed in the context of resources and Garda numbers, given the potential for an increase in antisocial behaviour. I understand the Minister and the Government will be providing additional supports for communities to help them to adjust to the new licensing laws. Our licensing laws were out of date and did need updating.In tandem with that, we have a significant issue with antisocial behaviour across the country. It is not just a Dublin issue. It happens everywhere. One can look at other cities in the world. I was recently in Kraków in Poland and in other European cities during the summer. There is a visible police presence on the streets that we just do not see here. I am not sure what the difference is. I was in Spain with my family during the summer and I do not think ten minutes passed without us seeing a member of the police force making people feel safe, because there were many tourists coming in who did not know the area. For some reason, our capital city seems to be different. It is the same for Galway, Limerick, Cork and even smaller towns, like my own town, Castlebar. One just does not see as much of a Garda presence as people would like to see. There is a consistent call from the public to have more gardaí doing community policing, being on the beat and knowing their area. A debate is needed on that. I know other colleagues requested that yesterday. I understand that the Leader's office has requested that from the Minister.

I welcome the change to licensing laws. It is good for business and it is good to have flexibility, because it does not help to have everybody come out onto the streets at the same time. Equally, we need to reassure the public that resources are there to protect people and that antisocial behaviour will be dealt with appropriately.

I know I am almost out of time. Wind Energy Ireland made a presentation in the audiovisual room this morning. There seem to be fantastic opportunities for renewable energy off the coast, particularly the west coast, where it is the windiest, but we seem to be moving at a snail's pace. We were world leaders in renewables and wind energy ten years ago but now we are at the back of the class. It would be great to have a debate in the House at the earliest opportunity about renewables, with a focus on wind energy and offshore wind energy potential. My understanding from the Department's reply is that the technology is not available to install wind energy north of Mayo. Experts who I have spoken to tell me that the technology is available and is currently floating off the coast of Aberdeen in Scotland. It has it but, for some reason, we do not.