Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 801: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 7 December 2004, the reason he has failed to furnish the information sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2060/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will recall that it was not possible to compile the information requested by him in his Parliamentary Question No. 287 of Tuesday, 7 December 2004 in the time frame available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand. I understand that it was necessary for the Garda authorities to contact each Garda district in order to obtain the information requested.

Section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 provides that a licensee shall not, on the licensed premises (a) supply, or permit any person to supply, intoxicating liquor — (i) to a drunken person, or (ii) to any person for consumption by a drunken person; (b) permit a drunken person to consume intoxicating liquor; (c) permit drunkenness to take place in the bar, or (d) admit any drunken person to the bar.

The following tables give details of the number of offences under section 4 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 in 2003 and 2004. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the breakdown of prosecutions under the Act in the manner requested by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be provided by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

Figures for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

The new provisions were explained to holders of licensed premises by local Garda officers in the series of seminars organised for that purpose.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner to ensure that the provisions of section 4 will be uniformly enforced throughout the State.