Lots of talk, but will there be any action?

It’s comforting to know that in the aftermath of the recent drunken behaviour at the concert in the Phoenix Park our leaders are tackling the problem head on with all the expertise and experience at their disposal.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton wasted no time in preparing an in depth investigation, “I noticed that some very young people appeared to have been drinking heavily. The debris left behind made that very clear. I am also concerned about reports of other substances being abused.”

Joan has spotted something other mere mortals could have missed quite easily. There were young people at the concert and it appears that some of them may have been drinking and taking drugs.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter described the events as “very unusual” and Brian Hayes, the Minister responsible for the Office of Public Works said, “We need to find out what went wrong.” The Taoiseach questioned whether the choice of music event headlined by Swedish House Mafia played any part in the behaviour.

Alan is perplexed, Brian wants to know what went wrong and Enda has figured out that the problem is all down to a bad choice of band.

Roisin Shortall, Minister of State, Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care, wants to solve the problem by increasing the cost of alcohol.

There will be detailed examinations, serious questions will be asked, many high level meetings will be held, reports will be issued and Alan is expected to reveal the outcome of a Garda inquiry into the festival to the Dáil at a later date.

But what difference, if any, will all this make? Probably very little. The root of the problem in this country lies in our tolerance of alcohol abuse and our acceptance of drunken, unruly behaviour. We have created a society where normal, educated, well behaved young people cannot socialise without becoming a liability to themselves, and to others, through over indulgence in alcohol.

We have to face up to the responsibility that each and every one of us has as parents and adults to change this culture. It will take a concerted effort by every citizen to educate and to show by example that drunkenness is no longer acceptable.

Perhaps Alan and the gang would be better employed expending some of their energy in trying to develop a long-term strategy to tackle the root cause instead.

Trevor Laffan

24 Copperfields

Rushbrooke

Cobh