Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to consider inviting the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Róisín Shortall, to the House to debate the recently published report on alcohol sponsorship in sport, which makes a number of valid recommendations, not least of which are recommendations to phase out sponsorship of sports events by drink companies and introduce a 9 p.m. threshold for alcohol advertising on television. In recent days, the media also reported on stark statistics produced by international bodies which show that alcohol abuse and even alcohol consumption at levels which most drinkers would assume to be minimal is leading to many forms of cancers. The statistics are horrific and it would be timely if the Minister of State, who has commendably placed the issue of drug abuse at the top of the agenda, were to return to the House to outline what legislative proposals, if any, she may wish to introduce in response to the recommendations of the advisory body.

I will finish on a positive note from the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, which, I am pleased to note, has managed to secure sufficient funding to continue its excellent work. The association has pointed out that while our reputation as being a nation of boozers may be justified, Ireland still has the highest percentage of non-drinkers in the European Union. There is, therefore, some hope that those who abuse drink will see the folly of their ways. This can only be done through legislation, however, especially on sport sponsorship by alcohol companies which is commonplace. The name of a drink company which sponsors a certain sport has almost been included in the dictionary. While I do not have anything against the company or the sport in question, of which I am a keen follower, it is wrong that drink companies are involved in the sponsorship of sport. I ask that the Minister of State come to the House at the earliest opportunity to allow the House to debate the report of the alcohol advisory council.