Professor Frank Murray:

Several questions were asked about data. All of the data we used are in the public domain. The figure of 1,500 beds is from the Department of Health. I got the mortality data from the OECD database which was based on Ireland's submission. All of the data are real data which outline the extent of the problem.

On minimum unit pricing, I am delighted to hear the committee has some people from the Sheffield group coming and that Professor Tim Stockwell has been before it. The data on minimum unit pricing are hard data from the field in Canada and came through Professor Stockwell's group.

We are not talking about something that is soft and iffy but something that has been proven to work. That is why we are so passionate about these matters, particularly minimum unit pricing. We also believe there should be fewer retail outlets selling alcohol.

Deputy Ó Caoláin made an interesting point about a six-pack of bottles. I am not sure one can buy a six-pack any more because one can now buy instead a 20-pack or a 24-pack. The scale of marketing and selling has changed in a way that we think is very destructive because bigger units are being sold. We should focus on minimum unit pricing and availability. We think they are the areas of proven benefit. I would argue they are both socially just and will improve the society in which we live.

The point made by Deputy Ó Caoláin and by my colleague, Professor Aiden McCormick, about excise and how the Exchequer would benefit is important. It is something the smart people in the Department of Finance should think about. In addition to minimum unit pricing, should they increase excise in some way for all sales in particular? There is a lot to be said for such an initiative. It would be of benefit because one would have increased price and more income paid into the Exchequer rather than to off-traders. It is a great point.