Rónán Mullen (Independent)

The Health Service Executive is seeking a 10% rise in the excise duty on alcohol. We know now Irish adults are the third-highest consumers of alcohol in the European Union and people such as Archbishop Seán Brady are calling for a break in the link between alcohol advertising and sporting events. Three years on from the report of the strategic task force on alcohol in 2004, which was discussed in this House, it is time for us to have another adventurous discussion about how to deal with the crisis that is alcohol abuse in our society.