The Minister for Justice has said he is in favour of bringing in new legislation to make all people under the age of 23 carry a card with their age on it.
The move would be part of a bid to outlaw underage drinking in Ireland.
Michael McDowell made his comments while speaking to students at a secondary school in Co Laois.
He said he intended to impose upon publicans an obligation not to serve people to the point where they become drunk.
Mr McDowell said he had spoken to the Garda Commissioner earlier today who informed him that the number of public order offences in Dublin and around the country was shown to have increased significantly in the first three months of this year.
When later asked by a student as to what position he would like to hold if he had a choice when the Taoiseach carried out a re-shuffle of the next cabinet, Mr McDowell said he would like to take over the Health portfolio because of the challenge involved.
'I would take health because I really do believe that it must be the most challenging job in Ireland at the moment,' said Mr McDowell.
