Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Each of the issues the Deputy has touched on has exercised me in the course of the preparation of this memo to Government and the intended preparation, for the first time, of public health alcohol legislation. We have a public health perspective on this issue. Traditionally, our only perspective on this in terms of public policy was the licensing laws. These laws are very important, of course, and are one of the reasons we have had such a proliferation of outlets where alcohol can be obtained. However, my perspective and that of my colleague, the Minister for Health, on this is public health and that is what we are bringing to bear. I hope and expect a broad degree of support for the measures I am proposing.

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