Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed with the Minister of State's answer. I did not ask him to comment on the alcohol advisory group. I asked for comment on the submission by the Competition Authority, about which I have grave concerns. Does the Minister of State agree with the Competition Authority's recommendation to allow below cost selling of alcohol? The dog on the street knows the abolition of the groceries order and the below cost selling of alcohol has increased binge drinking. It encourages the purchase of slabs of beer and people have told me they double their consumption of alcohol in order to get a deal. It is wrong of the Competition Authority to let ideology overrule common sense. Will the Minister of State speak to the authority before it is too late?

See this speech in context