P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I cannot understand what the Minister means when she refers to proposals for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks. Anyone who drinks in this country or anywhere in the world is aware of alcohol content because it is printed on the label of every bottle sold. Any wine with an alcohol content of less than 14% is not worth drinking because it is only paint stripper. There is no need to label spirit drinks.

Will the Minister indicate how many European countries have engaged in the decommissioning plan? As far as I can tell, the only country to have done so is Ireland. She will want to have the relevant information when she goes to Brussels.

See this speech in context