Ballinasloe councillors not for public drinking ban

COUNCILLORS in the Ballinasloe Municipal District have agreed that a ban on drinking alcohol in public places is not required in their district.

Cllr Evelyn Parsons, the Cathaoirleach of the Ballinasloe MD, suggested the topic be discussed during a recent MDC meeting, a day after bylaws banning the consumption of alcohol in public places went live in the Tuam MD.

“I see in the Tuam MD that the drinking bylaws that were passed have come into effect. It’s not something that has been brought to my attention, but are bylaws something that we should be thinking about?” asked Cllr Parsons, before opening the matter to the floor.

Sinn Féin Cllr Dermot Connolly said that instances of public drinking were more commonplace in the Ballinasloe MD in previous times.

“It seems to be particularly problematic when there is a spell of fine weather, but it’s not to the same extent as it used to be from my own observations,” offered Cllr Dermot Connolly.

Fine Gael Cllr Alan Harney agreed that public drinking bylaws were not “to the forefront” of the matters facing the Ballinasloe MD, while Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Connolly said that drug usage was a more pressing issue in Irish society.

“It’s up to every MD to do what is right for them. It might not be the case in Tuam, but the pub culture seems to be on the decline in our MD and in some other areas,” said the Moylough Cllr.

“The drugs culture is something I would be more concerned with. It seems to be so prevalent in society and in communities. It’s a huge worry. It’s going to cause huge implications for our health service going forward with young people smoking cannabis and taking drugs.

“If you take Australia as an example of that, and the number of people in their 20s who have suffered from psychosis after they started smoking cannabis in their teens.”