Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the overall objective of the Bill, which is to tackle alcohol abuse and underage drinking. I welcome the targeted and evidence-based measures that will help us to address these issues. I would like the Minister to help us along the way by answering a number of questions as part of my process of obtaining an understanding of the right way to finalise this Bill. I do not want to delay it. There is a perception that people who have problems with the Bill want to delay it. I see no reason why this Bill cannot go forward tonight if some of the issues that concern us are addressed. I am also enough of a realist to know that democracy reigns. I have no doubt that when the vote is held in this House that the Bill will be passed so let us start from there. In the interests of democracy, as Deputy Fitzpatrick noted, we have an obligation to represent those in work and, equally, those who may have issues with alcohol abuse.

I wish to put two questions to the Minister. Will he clarify his belief regarding the timing of the introduction of this labelling? Will he clarify the position regarding the warning comprising one third of the printed material on labels? I have not been informed as to whether this stipulation has been removed from the legislation.

I refer to the knock-on effect of this on producers, especially the small producers to whom Deputy Fitzmaurice and others referred. In the past two years, ten microbreweries have set up operations in my constituency. These are in addition to the larger ones mentioned by Deputy Fitzpatrick and their owners are seriously concerned about the costs that might come into play.

I want to make something clear. Those of us who are debating this issue - and I can certainly speak for myself in this regard - are not seeking to stall the process. I will support the Bill but I want reassurances about the outcome.

Imposing cancer warnings on alcohol products will affect people in my constituency. I will name one microbrewery - Listoke - which is employing 14 people. It is one of ten microbreweries established in the past ten years to which I just referred. Nobody should doubt that the reputational damage which will result from the requirement to put these labels on certain products will cause a problem for this country's drinks industry. I have said publicly that if a product is sold without a label in our airports and the same product on a shelf somewhere in Ireland has a label on it, anybody with common sense who is in opposition and who wants to promote their product will display the two items and ask what in the name of God the Irish people are trying to do by telling people in other countries that the product is not carcinogenic and telling their own people that it is. I have a difficulty with that. No other country has taken such a step. We have played a pioneering role in many other instances. I refer, for example, to introducing the plastic bag tax and the smoking ban. We are entitled to a level playing field. I do not believe this Bill will do that for us. I am concerned about it. That is why I am speaking this evening.

While I do not want to be repetitive, I have to remind Deputy Fitzpatrick that we already have warnings in relation to pregnancy and other issues. People generally know that excess use of alcohol will harm their health. The reality of this legislative process is that minimum pricing will help to stop the type of binge drinking that is happening. It would have been preferable if the Government had stuck to its original commitment to include a general warning. I am a realist with regard to what will be the outcome. Sometimes a whip is cracked in that regard.

As I stated when this Bill was being debated some time ago, it makes a laugh when we talk about the Irish language, which I fully support. It could be some help. Whiskey is called uisce beatha or the water of life. We demonise drink - and rightly so when taken to excess - but the producers of the products we are talking about have been demonised as well. There is a conflict. As others are saying, the reality is that we have choices to make. Ultimately, people have to make those choices. It is important for this House to legislate to protect those who are not able to make choices. In that respect, I fully support the Bill, but I am concerned that the Minister needs to provide details of the timing of the introduction of these measures.

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