Minister calls for people to toast St Patrick with water instead of alcohol

Patrick O'Donovan has called for people to "drown the shamrock" with water rather than alcohol this St Patrick's Day. Picture: Charlie Collins Dublin

Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has called for curbs on the sale of alcohol and for people to “drown the shamrock” with water on St Patrick’s Day.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, the Minister also said that any licence holder who would sell “pints and cocktails” during protests “would want to have their head examined.”