Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for his comments. I have specific questions about alcohol, one of which relates to the EU alcohol strategy. Despite the work undertaken on the EU action plan, there has been no EU-wide alcohol strategy in place since the end of 2012. Why is this and when can we expect one to be implemented? Alcohol harm is a serious issue across Europe, particularly in Ireland where the Government is taking proactive steps to address the burden in the forthcoming public health (alcohol) Bill. Why is this not a priority issue for the European Union? The EU action plan to tackle youth drinking and heavy episode drinking primarily focuses on the targeting of alcohol abuse by young people. How exactly will it limit the accessibility of alcoholic drinks?

Last week in the European Parliament the Commissioner welcomed the fact that member states could now decide to grow their own GM vegetables and produce. I am told that Spain already grows 150,000 hectares of GM maize. The United States has in recent times approved the production of a new modified potato and we know that the production of GM crops and vegetables is spreading throughout the rest of the world. Does the Commissioner anticipate that allowing national governments to take decisions in this area will lead to a surge in GM crop cultivation throughout the European Union?

One of the Commissioner's first actions following his appointment was to visit some of the countries affected by Ebola in west Africa. Does he think the European Union is doing enough to conquer the virus? What developments does he anticipate taking place in 2015?