Under-fire McDowell plans alcohol crackdown

MINISTER for Justice Michael McDowell plans to have his crackdown on alcohol abuse passed into law by July — but he was accused last night of not getting tough enough.

The minister was also charged with undermining equality legislation by proposing to transfer cases of alleged discrimination in certain pubs away from the Equality Tribunal to the district courts.

Mr McDowell also said yesterday he wants gardaí to use video cameras to gather evidence to prosecute publicans for continuing to serve alcohol to drunk people.