Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the representatives for coming before the committee today. The context for our discussion on this issue is a report which stated that for the year 2008, 1,000 people per annum die from illnesses associated with the abuse of alcohol. Some 2,000 hospital bed nights every year are related to illnesses associated with alcohol abuse and it costs the State in the region of €1.2 billion per annum to deal with this.

Some people will be at a loss to know why this committee is examining this phenomenon. If we banned sponsorship of sports altogether, I do not think that would totally overturn those figures. There is little enough evidence to show that the sponsorship of sports by alcohol companies contributes a large percentage to those figures. I caught the last half hour of the match last night and I would say cardiac stress had as much influence in terms of my health.

I understand this committee is examining this issue from the perspective of communications.