Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 3

Written Answers. - Age Identity Cards.

Brendan Smith

Question:

148 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals there are, to promote the greater use of the age identity card; if the £5 charge will be dropped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30339/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am pleased to say that a total of 46,800 age cards have been issued as of 27 November 2001. In relation to the promotion of age cards, I officially launched the age card scheme awareness campaign in Dublin Castle on 6 September 2000 in conjunction with the Garda authorities. All relevant bodies in the drinks industry were invited to the launch and attended it.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following steps have also been taken to promote the use of the age card. All Garda stations have been notified of the age card scheme and issued with application forms and posters. Non-Garda outlets have also been issued with application forms and posters; an age card poster campaign was initiated to target all pubs, off-licences, night clubs and dance halls etc. in each Garda district; each Garda district has held or will hold a local age card awareness campaign through use of all local media, such as radio and newspapers; co-operation and integration with the Department of Health and Children through the responsible serving of alcohol programme; contact is maintained with all relevant bodies in the drinks industry who continue to advise their members of any new development; youth information centres or youth groups nationwide have been issued with information leaflets, posters and relevant contact numbers; garda juvenile liaison officers and community gardaí visit post-primary schools, youth clubs, special projects etc. to highlight the age card scheme; future provision of the age card in Irish as well as in English; advertising the age card scheme in all schools and third level colleges; advertising the age card scheme on the back of till receipts in all main supermarkets, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Superquinn, Supervalu and Centra, in December and exploring all possible avenues of advertising the existence of the age card scheme with a view to ensuring that young people get the message about the illegal consumption of alcohol.

I would also like to say that the high level interdepartmental working group established to agree a co-ordinated response to recommendations contained in the interim report on off-licensing concluded that the age card scheme was seen as operating successfully, but that efforts to promote awareness and usage of age cards should be intensified. I am keeping the scheme under continual review and in that context I have established a review group within my Department to examine, in consultation with the Garda authorities, the current age card scheme and to make appropriate recommendations. I expect this group to report to me by the end of the year. In the meantime, I have no plans to abolish the existing fee and the Garda authorities will continue to promote the existing scheme.

However, it must be borne in mind that while legislative measures, together with initiatives such as the voluntary age card scheme, can help to curtail the problem of under age drinking, they cannot be viewed as the only solution. Dealing with the demand side of the under age drinking problem should not be seen as the province of the State agencies alone. The drinks industry, the creative media and in particular parents, must also play a part in helping to address that side of the problem.