Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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If it were the case that we had comfortable pubs with cheery fireplaces where people could have a nice glass of whiskey and then leave, we would be cheerleaders supporting everything the witnesses do but as my colleagues outlined clearly, unfortunately, that is not the world in which we live. Deputy Ó Cuív referred to the complexity of the scenario, and I concur with that. It is not that we do not support entrepreneurs and people like Mr. O'Brien going out and trying to create a business. We do, but in this case he knows he will always be in this dilemma in that the cost to the Exchequer of the downside of alcohol consumption is a large one, and there is no mention of that here. Mr. O'Brien has tip-toed through the middle and said the industry cannot put up with this. On the other hand, how will we fund looking after those people? The tax has to be garnered somewhere.

Mr. O'Brien spoke about the huge surge in demand for Irish whiskey and said it was the fastest growing spirit in the world, or words to that effect. It is a growing industry. The witnesses are part of an industry that is not declining. It is growing, as per their own evidence, and by the sounds of it the industry will continue to grow. That is an irony when we are examining the cost to the Exchequer of caring for those people who have problems with alcohol. If any of the witnesses have sat in an accident and emergency department or spoken to either a general practitioner or a consultant in any hospital, they will tell them that the cost is enormous. They can pluck as many figures out of the air as they wish and say the figure is only 1%, two people or whatever but it is a sufficient number of people, and we know we have a problem.

While I accept the witnesses support the DrinkAware campaign, I would argue that is not sufficient, that the DrinkAware campaign is a small part of what needs to be done, that alcohol producers have a major responsibility, and that the DrinkAware campaign must be stronger and have more invested in it not necessarily money, but in terms of its creativity and capacity to reach people. I am not sure it is doing all it can do, but that might be an argument for another day.

If the levels at which the excise is now set is not acceptable, what is acceptable to the witnesses? The final line in Mr. O'Brien's script states that excise is a tax that we simply cannot afford. I disagree entirely. I believe his industry can afford it. His evidence suggests that his industry is part of a growing market across the world. There is a great tradition here. With a new industry and a product that has never been sold previously, he has a great deal of opportunity. What does he believe the industry can afford?