Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I refer to the sale of alcohol. Yesterday, following the concert in the Phoenix Park, Members focused on the volume of alcohol young people and not so young people had consumed at the concert. Last week we heard from Senator Averil Power about an irresponsible supermarket promoting alcohol products. We are in the summer season. The leaving certificate results will be released next month and the junior certificate results in September. There will be many opportunities to party and many young people will procure alcohol. Some two weeks ago the National Off-Licence Association called on the Government to introduce a mandatory training programme for retailers of alcohol and their staff. I support its call because it is very important that those dealing with and selling alcohol to young people have the confidence to say "No", examine identification and question the volumes being purchased. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, to discuss the sale of alcohol, the progress she has made on the issue of below cost selling and her approach to introducing changes to how alcohol is sold.