The Minister for Justice Mr Michael McDowell has warned of a major crackdown on the drinks industry in an effort to tackle the problem of public drunkenness.
Speaking at the Progressive Democrats party conference in Galway, Mr McDowell said alcohol must be recognised as a scourge which has ruined many lives in this State.
He launched a scathing attack on those publicans whom he said made a profit out of "reducing people to stupefaction".
The Minister said it was already illegal for publicans to allow people to become drunk on their premises, and he said he was planning a stricter enforcement of this law.
He said: "The ability to drink yourself stupid was not a gift to be proud of."
Earlier, a motion to change the rules governing the election of leader in the Progressive Democratic Party was withdrawn.
The motion which had been put forward by the Dublin South East constituency organisation had proposed extending the leadership vote to all members of the party, rather than by the parliamentary party.
However, Mr Michael McInerney, chairman of the constituency organisation, said they were disappointed in how the media reported their proposals.
He denied the move had anything to do with a leadership contest in the near future.
He said they had no intention of "fanning the flames" of speculation about the leadership of Ms Mary Harney.
Last night the Tánaiste played down speculation that she would quit as PD leader during the lifetime of the Government.
Ms Harney told a dinner to mark the opening of this weekend's annual conference there was no vacancy at the top of the party.