Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am going to make a brief contribution to this debate. I felt in conscience the more I listened to the debate that I did need to say something. I listened to some of the amendments proposed by Deputy O'Reilly and to many of the speakers in this Chamber, but for me what made up my mind not to oppose this Bill were the opinions of the two medical people in the Chamber. Neither I nor any other Deputy has any right to question - and I mean this - people who have the medical experience, who deal with patients and who know the danger of excessive drinking. For me, Deputy Harty and Deputy Chambers were the two people in particular who were the reason I said to myself quite clearly that I cannot oppose this Bill, even though I have some minor reservations about it.

I also acknowledge that the Minister has medical experts. This debate, however, has been somewhat clouded because one could be forgiven for thinking that someone was going to be policing the door of every public house and that it would not be possible to get into some of them. That is not what we are about. We are trying to control the abuse of alcohol in this State and, regardless of whether we like it, we have a major problem. If we are honest, we have all had times in our clinics where families have pleaded and begged for their relatives badly affected by alcohol. I do not drink but I go into public houses and I mix with people who have a drink. I have no difficulty with moderate drinking but this society has to accept that alcohol is a major issue.

I am inclined to agree with Deputy Jonathan O'Brien. Why not be the first in the world to do this? Remember when Deputy Micheál Martin took on the smoking lobby and the way he was hounded and abused? If we went out now and did a survey today, I would say 98% of people, even those who still smoke, would say that was the right decision. We were the first in the world to do it and now many other nations have followed us. I have some sympathy for some of the breweries and the family businesses. They have concerns about part of the labelling and part of the advertising. I have discussed it with Deputy Donnelly and he has clarified some of that for me. In general, I welcome the Bill and support it, allowing for the fact that I do see that some of the family breweries probably do have some worries in respect of advertising. I have two questions that the Minister might answer. If this Bill goes through, how long will it be before the labels appear on the bottles? Second, will Europe be forcing us to implement this?

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