asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the serious under-age drink problem in the O'Devaney Gardens area of Dublin 7; if there will be a crackdown on people who are abusing the selling of drink to young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Under Age Drink Problem.
10.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no evidence that under-age drinking is a serious problem in the area mentioned. The area receives regular attention from foot and mobile patrols and the proprietors of local off-licence premises are visited regularly by the local gardaí to impress on them the necessity for ensuring that the licencing laws are fully observed. Emphasis is laid on the responsibility of these licensees in relation to the prevention of under-age drinking.
The gardaí will continue to give the matter appropriate attention.
May I ask your permission to raise a matter on the Adjournment——
I will facilitate the Deputy when questions have been completed.
On a point of order, am I allowed to raise this question after 3.30 p.m.?
The House is sitting later than usual and the ordinary rules governing a Thursday sitting will not apply as far as I am concerned. Deputies who wish to raise matters of that kind may do so when questions are completed.
I appreciate that. I am a little surprised to hear from the Minister's reply that there appears to be no evidence indicating a problem in that area because the local association held numerous meetings at which this issue was highlighted. Will the Minister consider what has been happening over the past few weeks? The U2 concert will be held in Croke Park in a fortnight and almost everyone within a radius of a mile or two of that park is stocking up with three to four months supply so that they can meet the needs of the young people attending this concert. Has the Minister come to any conclusion, about introducing identity cards for young people, because there is alcohol abuse. This is a serious problem particularly in certain urban areas and in the city centre.
With regard to the question on the Order Paper, the gardaí from the Bridewell station who patrol this area say the area in question is diligently patrolled. They also tell me that during the past four years there were no detections for breaches of the licensing laws involving sales to under age persons by the holder of off-licenses. During the same period there were the following number of prosecutions for drunkenness of persons under the age of 17 — ten in 1983, eight in 1984, 14 in 1985 and six in 1986. With regard to the stocking up of booze for sale to young people who will be going to this concert in Croke Park, I will bring this matter specifically to the attention of the Garda Síochána. As regards the other matters raised by the Deputy, it would be more appropriate if we were to discuss them when we are dealing with the intoxicating liquor laws which will be before us very soon.
I will take this opportunity of providing the Minister with the names of two off-licences which regularly break the law and sell drink to young people in this area.
I welcome such information and will act as an intermediary and see it goes immediately to the Garda Síochána.
Is the Minister aware that in the Oxmantown Road area, beside O'Devaney Gardens, it is a public scandal that cider is on sale to under-age people and that the residents are very deeply concerned about this problem. Will the Minister have the matter reinvestigated? I will join Deputy Keating in supplying him with the names and addresses of the offending parties. This is a problem, despite the Minister's reply.
Of course I will be glad to oblige Deputy Gregory and I accept any offer of help from him. No Deputy need wait until a parliamentary question is on the Order Paper for a reply by me. They need not be shy of handing information on such matters to the Garda.
We have done so but it has not made any difference.
I will certainly bring the views of Deputy Gregory and Deputy Keating to the attention of the Garda Commissioner and ask him to investigate the matter. If anything is wrong I will ask him to ensure that it is put right straight away. The question specifically referred to O'Devaney Gardens but I will ensure that the Commissioner is aware of the suggestion of Deputy Gregory that someone in Oxmantown Road is giving drink to young people.
We must now deal with questions nominated for priority.