KILDARE GENERAL, 26 July: by Bill Trapman. Leixlip-based councillor Paul Kelly has called for a curfew to be imposed on young people in towns. He was speaking in relation to the problem of underage drinking and the trouble it leads to.
“I believe that we should consider a curfew, whereby people under the age of 18 would not be allowed in our town centres after 10.30pm on weekdays and 11.30pm at weekends unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult," he says. "The penalty could be an on-the-spot fine."
Cllr Kelly says he doesn't think that this is too draconian, and that parents should know where their children are. "They should not be wandering the streets after dark. Curfews work well in other countries and visitors to our towns are often shocked at the numbers of very young children out late at night with no apparent purpose other than roaming around. It often leads to trouble, as we well know."
Suggesting that part of the problem with public order in Ireland is the country's attitude to drink, he says he believes it is the atmosphere in which it is served and consumed that causes part of our problem. "We only have to look to France or Germany to see that a café type society exists where young people can eat, have a coffee, play the jukebox or a game of pool in the café bars, and the emphasis is less on getting drunk and more on having a good time in a sociable atmosphere. We should be moving towards providing those types of facilities for our young people."
Welcoming the current debate on public order, Cllr Kelly says 'hard decisions' have to be taken by leaders in our society, and parents have to start taking control again. "I will be calling on Kildare local authorities to consider introducing by-laws to provide for a nighttime curfew. I hope parents and the Gardaí will support me and young people will have to learn that they will have to wait a little while longer to 'grow up'. But if it leads to a more peaceful society and more harmonious community life, it will be worth it."
©2001/knn