Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 298: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to recent reports that fines issued for drinking in public places have in the majority of cases not been pursued and even in the tiny number of cases where that have been pursued to court, the fine collected was extremely small and would not represent a deterrent; his proposals to take action to improve enforcement as part of a drive to reduce the problem of youth drinking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to inform the Deputy that I share his concern at patterns of drinking in this country and that is the reason why I set up the Government Alcohol Advisory Group at the beginning of this year. One of the Group's functions is to look at the issue of under-age consumption and they are to report to me by the end of this month. Following on from this report, I intend to bring forward urgent proposals for changes in the law. In addition, my Department will continue to work on the drafting of a comprehensive Sale of Alcohol Bill which is already included in the Government Legislation Programme for 2008.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána issue fines on behalf of Local Authorities in respect of the offence of "public drinking" contrary to the Local Authority by-laws where they are in place. Any follow up in respect of the fines, i.e. collection of fine or prosecution, is a matter for the relevant Local Authority.

I wish to also inform the Deputy that the Fines Bill, at present before this House, will raise the level of all fines through a method of indexation for summary offences imposed in the District Court to the value they had when the offences were first created.