Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

A motion in my name on the Order Paper states "Ireland has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world" and mentions problems such as "alcohol related violence" and "anti-social behaviour" which are associated with alcohol. Given that a headline in one of today's newspapers reads, "Irish among top alcohol consumers in OECD - report", it is incongruous that the Government is proposing budget sweeteners to the effect that alcohol prices will be reduced. At the same time, however, one reads about budget sweeteners to the effect that alcohol prices will be reduced. A debate is needed in this regard. My motion pertains to advertising, an issue which has not been addressed seriously. It is an embarrassment that this country displays such a level of binge drinking of alcohol that causes such social problems. This is a matter the Seanad could address.

Throughout the year the Minister for Social and Family Affairs has been issuing press releases on the savings made in the social welfare budget on foot of a crackdown on fraud. In July she claimed €250 million had been saved in 2008 and that an estimated €500 million would be saved by anti-fraud measures in 2009. However, she and the Taoiseach have rejected the suggestion highlighted in this week's "Prime Time Investigates" programme that there is fraud to the extent of €2 billion in the social welfare budget . The Taoiseach has stated one cannot extrapolate from a single case in which it was found that 10% of the budget was being lost through fraud. However, the Comptroller and Auditor General's report of last September pointed to the social welfare overpayments recorded in 2008 and he suggested extrapolating the results from a number of surveys. This report indicates there is a significant level of payments in excess of entitlements. These are highly significant figures. The Minister has claimed credit for saving €500 million by way of anti-fraud measures. What has been happening in recent years? Has the State been losing this level of budgetary resources through sheer incompetence on the part of the Government's part in controlling this area of public expediture?