This article is from page 4 of the 2006-08-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
CLARE County Council is proposing to strengthen by-laws banning the consumption of alcohol in public places that are no longer being enforced by Ennis gardaí.
The council has just published new by-laws targeting the outdoor use of alcohol, non-prescribed drugs and solvents. In recent years, by-laws relating to the consumption of intoxicating substances in public places have been introduced in Ennis, Kilrush and Shannon by the respective town councils.
The new regulations will affect the rest of Clare, including the coastal resorts of Lahinch and Kilkee.
However, figures seen by The Clare People show that no person has yet been fined in relation to the by-laws applicable to the Ennis area in 2006.
The Ennis figures show that in 2003, when the regulations came into force, 73 fines were issued; 12 fines were issued in 2004; two in 2005 while, so far in 2006, not one fine has been issued.
Explaining the figures, Superintendent John Kerin said that the Public Order Act covered all Garda requirements in relation to drinking and disorderly conduct in public places.
“We don’t have any necessity to have recourse to the local by-laws in the vast majority of cases. The Public Order Act covers all eventualities, though this may be different in the county’s coastal resorts”, he said.
His north Clare colleague, Supt Eamon Dolan, who has jurisdiction for the Ennistymon area which includes Lahinch, Spanish Point and Miltown Malbay, welcomed the proposed bylaws.
“Drinking in public is a big problem on Lahinch prom and this will be a big help. I have been pressing for these by-laws for a while and they should be of great assistance. I expect that they will make an awful difference and be of real benefit to policing the north Clare area.”
According to council senior staff officer, James Barry, the revised bylaws will ensure the council has a comprehensive set of by-laws to encourage appropriate behaviour to the benefit of all of the community”.
Offenders who are caught breaching the by-laws will be served a notice specifying a fixed payment of €75, while prosecution allows for fines of up to €1,500.
The local authority is currently inviting public submissions in relation to the proposed legislation.