Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
143 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if adverse media reports concerning public drinking, especially among teenagers, in Dublin city centre on St. Patrick’s Day may be a deterrent to families and visitors enjoying the festivities; the effect such reports may have for the tourism industry during such a significant date in the calendar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10644/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation and promotion of the St. Patrick's Festival is primarily a matter for the St. Patrick's Festival Company, which secures substantial funding through Fáilte Ireland under my Department's Vote. The festival's reputation as a world famous event continues to grow. It attracts huge crowds and is extremely popular, not only with Irish people, who view it as a great source of pride, but also with overseas visitors. The parade generates very favourable international media coverage and it traditionally signals the start of the tourist season. The organisers were generally very pleased with this year's events and considered them very successful. Regrettably, there were some negative media reports on teenage drinking, particularly late on St. Patrick's Day. However, the festival organisers are satisfied that no public order incidents occurred to spoil the parade or the other events organised throughout the week.
Excessive drinking is a concern to us all and the Government has taken a very firm stance on this issue with the introduction last year of legislation. It is the primary objective of every festival or event organiser that visitors to their event, whether local or from overseas, have an enjoyable time. It is unfortunate, therefore, that incidents such as those referred to by the Deputy occurred, particularly as the St. Patrick's Day festival has developed a very good reputation as a family event over the past few years. I hope, therefore, that the scale of such incidents this year was exceptional and will not act as a deterrent to families who want to enjoy the festival atmosphere in the city centre in future years.
The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin has gained huge significance in recent years. In rural areas there has been a fall-off in St. Patrick's Day events mainly due to a lack of insurance cover. This is regretted. Many from country areas travel to Dublin for the parade.
Newspaper reports of a group of under age people drinking did not give much confidence to the development of that aspect of the St. Patrick's Day parade. Has the Minister had meetings with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this aspect of the parade? Has he met the St. Patrick's Day parade committee on the overall effect of the parade and the interest it has generated? I am aware from newspaper reports that Tourism Ireland had a number of representatives from the travel business and media from other countries here. Has a negative report been received from them on what occurred here?
I have not had too many negative reports on the St. Patrick's Day festival. We are all aware of reports of teenage drinking and thuggery. I marched in the London parade in the pouring rain with thousands of expatriate Irish people and others, and neither at that nor at the substantial concert afterwards was there any trouble whatsoever. It is, therefore, disconcerting to return home to find this kind of thuggish behaviour occurs here. Obviously, it is a cause of great concern and of embarrassment, and it is deeply regrettable. In the circumstances I will ask the St. Patrick's Day festival committee to look at the entire question with a view to seeing whether suggestions can be made to improve the position. The festival committee did an exemplary job and is in no way at fault for the actions of a few who only served to smear a tremendous festival. I sincerely hope the committee will be in a position to liaise with the relevant authorities with a view to minimising the possibility of a recurrence of this kind of behaviour on the streets.
What the Minister calls embarrassing behaviour happens all over the country at many festivals. Part of the solution is to give young people a choice of other things to do. A report heading to the Minister's desk shows the benefits of putting more money into sport and art as a deterrent to drink abuse, drugs and so on. Will the Minister commit to giving that report serious attention? Its 12 recommendations, if implemented, would solve the problem of under age drinking at festivals. This is a problem not only at St. Patrick's Day festival but at festivals of all kinds throughout the summer and the entire year. The Minister's Department is one Department that can and should make a difference. Will he commit to giving the report, which will be on his desk in a few weeks' time, serious consideration?
Will the Minister acknowledge the media reports were based on fact, that under age drinking takes place at all major festivals and that it has nothing to do with the good work carried out by the festival committee but rather with Government incompetence, particularly, by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and by the lack of funding provided by the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, to the Minister's Department and to the Minister for Education and Science to encourage young people to get involved in sports and the arts? That is the nub of the issue. Will the Minister raise the matter in the strongest terms with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and stop him spouting off about more prison spaces, to stop the cause of anti-social behaviour and drinking?
Let us be clear about one thing, as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I remember introducing legislation to deal with under age drinking, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, has done the same. There is plenty of legislation. There are plenty of places where fellows can kick a ball around if they wish rather than running around the street half drunk.
They do not all kick ball.
It is about time we had some straight talking. One can put in so much legislation, and we have done that, and the Garda can be asked to do so much, and we have done that. It is time for certain people to start behaving as if they were adults.
There are no facilities.
It is time for certain people to take responsibility for their behaviour.
They are 12 year olds.
It is about time people started saying that.
They are not adults.
The Minister did not answer my question. Is he washing his hands of it?
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
