Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Cecelia Keaveney for her great interest in this important issue. She said that we have a problem with the culture and I will begin by discussing the damage caused by alcohol, which is visible throughout Ireland. It is visible on the streets and in courts, hospitals, workplaces, schools and homes. Despite the tendency to blame under-age drinkers, the majority of alcohol harm occurs among the adult population. It manifests itself in street violence, accidents, hospital admissions, drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, suicides, alcohol dependency, cancers and cirrhosis. Some of these problems, especially the acute problems, arise where the light or the moderate drinker drinks to excess on a single drinking occasion, while others result from regular heavy drinking over a long time.

There is a considerable body of evidence which shows not only that policies and interventions targeted at vulnerable populations can prevent alcohol-related harm but that policies targeted at the population at large can have a protective effect. This is the approach taken in the strategic task force on alcohol report of 2004 and it is consistent with the approach recommended by the World Health Organisation, WHO.

Scientific knowledge is developing as regards the strategies that work to reduce alcohol-related harm. The WHO has stated that a combination of strategies should be used to include regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol, regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages, enactment of appropriate drink-driving policies and implementing screening programmes and brief interventions against hazardous and harmful use of alcohol, for example, in primary care and accident and emergency departments.

The introduction of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 which was conceived and passed within six months has demonstrated the Government's commitment to dealing with alcohol misuse, in particular from the public order perspective. The Act contains provisions in regard to new hours for off-sales of alcohol, tougher public order provisions allowing the gardaí to seize alcohol from minors, a court procedure to secure a new wine-only off-licence and new grounds for objection to the granting of an off-licence and new conditions attaching to the granting of a special exemption.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is also working on a new code of practice on the sale and display of alcohol with all the main supermarkets and convenience stores. New strengthened codes on alcohol advertising and sponsorship have been in place since last July which control the placement and volume of advertising in all media.

The Senator made an interesting suggestion in regard to common UK and Irish VAT and excise rates. We should look at these issues. North-South co-operation in the health sector has existed for many years and while collaboration between both jurisdictions has been ongoing, it has accelerated in recent years, in particular since the Good Friday Agreement. That Agreement provided for the establishment of a North-South Ministerial Council to bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and in the Government. Health Ministers formally engage on cross-Border issues under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council. Its purpose is to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland, including implementation on a North-South and cross-Border basis, on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of each Administration.

Both Health Ministers have agreed to undertake a comprehensive study to examine the potential for future co-operation between Northern Ireland and Ireland in the delivery and development of health and social care. The study will provide a strategic framework for the development and implementation of future collaborative work in health and social care services. The study recognises that both jurisdictions face problems associated with the misuse of alcohol and will include recommendations on future collaboration on substance abuse and alcohol related initiatives.

As the Senator outlined, the Scottish Government is advancing proposals to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland. There has been contact at official level between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Scottish officials in regard to the legislation and policy measures proposed. Such contacts serve to inform and build up expertise which can be mutually beneficial. As a result of the Senator raising the matter, I will make contact with my ministerial counterpart in the Scottish Government with a view to progressing this issue.

The problems associated with alcohol misuse and proposals and initiatives to tackle such problems have been, and will continue to be, a basis for contact and co-operation at the highest levels between Ireland and our counterparts in Northern Ireland and Scotland. I thank the Senator for her interest in this important issue.