Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, at lunchtime today there was a very sobering event organised by Alcohol Action Ireland to remind people that the consumption levels of alcohol are on the up again. It outlined in very stark terms the harmful impact drinking has on one in 11 children as a result of parental drinking. It also said that alcohol is implicated in approximately half of all suicides. This year, some 1,000 people in this country will be diagnosed with alcohol-related cancer.

It is 600 days since the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was published and started winding its way through the Seanad. By all accounts, the problems in the Seanad are the result of the failure of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to reach agreement on a compromise.

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