Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak along the same lines as the previous speakers. The real challenge facing the Government was to do something about minimum pricing. That was one of the foundation stones of Deputy Shortall’s public policy on health when she was Minister of State. She will arrive shortly for the debate. The very low price of beer and other alcohol products is a public health matter and the abuse of alcohol can often lead to serious anti-social behaviour and criminality.

That is the real challenge facing the Government that should have been addressed but which has still not been addressed three years on. On the other hand, the usual set of circumstances applies every year to the more sociable drinkers.

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