66 Mr. M. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if he will give details of (1) the number of convictions for illegal drinking of persons under the age of 18 years in 1990 and 1991 and (2) the number of convictions in the same period of persons who were the owners of premises who supplied alcoholic drinks to persons who were under the age of 18 years.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of prosecutions of persons under 18 years for offences under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988, for the year 1990 was 133. Figures for convictions are not readily available. The number of persons convicted or against whom charges were held proved and orders made without conviction in respect of supplying or selling drink to persons under 18 years of age was 62 in that year. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.