Depression levels among sixth-year boys increases “substantially” the more often they get drunk, rising to “severe” levels for those who binge drink weekly.

The contribution to the never-ending debate about our dysfunctional relationship with drink by Mr Justice Paul Carney yesterday was as timely as it was chilling.

A High Court judge has warned of a “tsunami” of homicide and rape prosecutions if internet drinking contests continue.

As relations between the gardaí and Justice Minister Alan Shatter grow increasingly strained, a government TD has asked the Taoiseach to appoint a junior minister to the department, claiming Mr Shatter “doesn’t have the time to engage properly with gardaí”.

Alan Shatter relishes the challenge to confront issues, says political correspondent Mary Regan