Mr. Jim McCabe:

I welcome Deputy Joe Higgins' opinion that an increase in excise duty is not the answer. We fully support any move to address the health problem we face and have worked closely with various societies to that end.

In respect of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, Mr. Dermot Ahern, did not sign off on the separation provisions which would have prohibited the placement of alcohol beside non-alcoholic products in multiple stores and mixed traders. That provision continues to sit on the shelf because the Minister for Justice and Equality has not commenced it. That alone would be helpful. When somebody walks into one of our shops, he or she is making a conscious decision to buy alcohol. People who have been trained work behind the counter and can provide the proper service. The way things are going, we will not be around in a few years time and the multiples will be on top. We argue that now is the time to commence that provision. People who want to sell alcohol properly and seriously will stay in the business and the others will get out of it.