Tribunal money ‘could tackle drink and drug issues’

MONEY being traced by tribunals and earned from offshore accounts could be spent on education to help tackle binge drinking and drug taking by young people, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland president Pat Cahill said last night.

He told his union’s annual convention it is no surprise disillusioned youngsters faced with low standards in society turn to drugs and drink.

“A daily diet from the tribunals shows the enormous sums of money that were made in this country over the last few years and who got that money,” he said.

“If a fraction of the money that the present tribunals seek to trace were to be spent on education, perhaps the problems of binge drinking and drug taking could be more effectively tackled,” Mr Cahill said.

Dr Mick Loftus, former GAA president and Mayo coroner, said the drinks industry creates an impression in advertising that life can not be enjoyed without alcohol.

“Senior people in the industry must be aware of the serious consequence of their products, which are responsible for the misery of so many families,” he said.

Responding to the comments, Education Minister Noel Dempsey asked why we are surprised by the problem, when every local and national festival for the last 20 years was sponsored by a drinks company.

“Was it not inevitable that our young and not-so-young people would equate enjoyment and drink?” he asked delegates.

The minister said alcohol abuse is a societal problem but the question must be asked as to what role a school can or should play in modern society.

“There has been a tendency in recent years to package society’s problems and to post them to the school. Yes, schools have a big role to play but they are only part of the solution,” he said.