Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been some concern about the lack of legislative proposals before the Dáil, particularly Bills emanating from the Government. There has been a lack of engagement on a number of Bills. The one I want to raise is the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, which was before the Seanad prior to Christmas. It is a wide-ranging Bill and has been the subject matter of numerous all-party Oireachtas committees. It was withdrawn from the Seanad before Christmas. It is now the month of May, six months on. It is generally accepted and regarded as a matter of urgent public health concern yet as I understand it no progress is being made with it. There is no indication it is coming before the House before the summer recess. The Irish Cancer Society is adamant it should, as are many other public health bodies. There may be issues around certain aspects but it does not mean it cannot be debated here and dealt with and that there cannot be engagement on it. There are a number of other Bills like this that are in the system but are not being progressed.

See this speech in context