Ahern ‘not responsible’ for law enforcement

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday said he was not responsible for the enforcement of alcohol and public order laws.

Amid persistent heckling in the Dáil as the Government was criticised for the epidemic of street violence, Mr Ahern told members of the opposition to shut up and listen to what he was trying to say.

Mr Ahern said that between 1997 and 2000 there was a drop of 27% in crime figures and in the past two years, 2001 and 2002, there has been a large increase.

But Labour TD Brendan Howlin’s description of the figures on crime as “rubbish” resulted in Mr Ahern losing his composure.

“If I outline Garda facts, they say it is rubbish. Could opposition members just listen? I only have a minute, can they not shut up for a minute?” he said.

Mr Ahern said Justice Minister Michael McDowell was dealing with liquor licensing and public order issues.

The scourge of alcohol-fuelled violence and criminality makes nobody proud, Mr Ahern said and the Government was trying to deal with it and take the necessary legislative and enforcement measures.

“I am not responsible for the enforcement measures. I can supply the resources to the gardaí and provide the legislative powers. We will do our best to ensure record numbers of gardaí deal with this matter,” he said.

Mr Ahern said the number of gardaí had increased by 1,000 under the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition and the Garda budget had increased by 60%.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said in recent weeks the country had seen an unprecedented rise in the incidence of unpremeditated violence on our streets.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the public would be appalled to hear Mr Ahern saying he has no responsibility for enforcement.

Meanwhile, nightclub owners representatives said yesterday that customers who go out dancing are not responsible for street violence in the early hours of the morning.

Objecting to a proposal by the Commission of Liquor Licensing to ban music and entertainment during drinking-up time, Irish Nightclub Owners’ Association spokesman Patrick Prendergast said people who dance don’t end up fighting later.

“Customers who dance during drink-up time are either unlikely to have the energy or the inclination to be involved in public order offences,” he said.

But Mr Prendergast also told the Oireachtas Justice Committee the law obliging nightclubs to admit people as young as 18 years is contributing to public order problems associated with excessive drinking.

The nightclub owners say laws should be introduced to provide for a minimum age limit of 21 or 23 for admittance to nightclub. They also want new laws to separate the legal obligations of nightclubs and pubs.