Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 87: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason existing by-laws that prohibit the public consumption of alcohol in public places are not rigidly enforced in view of the fact that groups of young people and older men regularly congregate and drink under canal bridges in areas (details supplied) in County Dublin creating antisocial behaviour including public drug taking. [40262/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 introduced tougher public order provisions, allowing the Gardaí to seize alcohol from persons who are under 18 and to seize alcohol where they have a reasonable apprehension of public disorder or damage to property and require a person to leave the place concerned in a peaceable and orderly manner. Provision was also made to issue fixed charge notices for certain offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

One of the strategic goals of An Garda Síochána is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities. This is achieved by developing a specific public order policing strategy based on frequency of incident type, location, time and day analysis and to develop and deploy a strategic, area-specific policing strategy to manage the night-time economy and reduce the fear associated with alcohol-related public disorder.

I attach a high importance to the achievement of the maximum levels of safety for local communities, in particular through the tackling of problems resulting from the misuse of alcohol. This is reiterated in the Renewed Programme for Government, which contains a specific commitment that we will continue to target Garda actions within communities experiencing significant anti-social behaviour.

I am confident that the restrictions on the availability and visibility of alcohol provided for in the Intoxicating Liquor Act, along with the provisions for more effective enforcement to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse in particular anti-social behaviour, will contribute to bringing about more responsible behaviour on the part of those concerned.