Very briefly, on that point raised by Senator Mooney. I want to commend Senator Bohan for raising the question of education as far as drink is concerned. I did not get a chance to say anything about it. It is something we would all wish to see. I do not mind who is responsible. It is the Government's responsibility in some instances. It is primarily a matter for the Department of Health. But let us not forget that it is our responsibility as legislators to do our bit. Above and beyond all that, it is the responsibility of parents. We cannot do the work of parents. We can only go a certain distance. Unless parents play their part, all the legislation we can enact and put on our statute books will be of no avail. There is little point in trying to protect 14 and 15 year olds from the very odd or rare unscrupulous off-licence holder, or the very odd or rare unscrupulous vintner, who might not be in good health himself, giving drink to 15-year-olds when the parents do not even know where their children are. There are grave responsibilities in parenthood. I am not going to lecture anybody on them. Schools have a lot to do with what is going on. Teachers play their part also. What we can only do is a small section. I think we are doing our part well. I am very grateful to the Members of this House, Members of all parties. At times I was not all that grateful to Senator Cregan, because he was turning me upside down every so often. But I very much appreciate the effort he put into the Bill. I mean that very sincerely. I would suggest to Senator Cregan that, if he were looking — I hope the press will not comment on it — for a position of professional lobbyist, he would be worth about ten times any of the lobbyists that have come into me on behalf of the association. I mean that.
What we are doing is only a start. There is a lot more to be done. First of all, we must be guided by the interest of fair play for those who are involved in the profession, but the overall interest must be the overriding factor. The interests of our community, and in particular of the young people, are paramount. One particular evening I was walking in a country town during a holiday period and I saw youngsters coming out of pubs between 10.30 and 11 o'clock. Out of one particular pub came young girls of 15 or 16 years of age. They were being loaded like cattle on to a bus and being brought 20 or 30 miles to a disco. It made me wonder what life is all about, and what life was like for us in different times and in different places. What chance have those young people of surviving in this day and age? We have a serious obligation right across the divide. We have had nothing but wonderful co-operation from all parties in the Dáil. I am particularly thankful to the Fine Gael Party, to Deputy Sean Barrett and his colleagues, and to the other parties, to the Progessive Democrats and to all who helped in every way to give us what, I think, is a reasonable start and a good piece of legislation. It will not be perfect.
To you, a Cathaoirligh, many thanks for your guidance, your help, your calming effect on us, your strength in maintaining decorum on the one or two occasions when it was required and in helping us get our business done properly, as it should be.
