John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I ask the question because it seems that with regard to overall alcohol policy, this Government exercises a "softly softly" approach. It does not want to disturb the alcohol industry too much. We have seen this before with the Minister for Health and Children's proposed introduction of the alcohol products Bill, which was mysteriously shelved.

Will the Minister take a tough line on the issue of alcohol? What has been stated today is very like what the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health and Children have said with regard to the alcohol products Bill. The system is more or less self-regulation, and the alcohol industry would police itself. That will clearly not work. The Minister has stated that he will consider the issue at some stage in the future. How long will it be left before it is considered? How long must we wait?

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