Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Barrett on the very significant Private Members' Bill he brought before the House last evening. I hope that Bill will make a significant contribution to the regulation of the banking sector here in the future. I agree with previous speakers that no one can stand over the obscene salaries being paid to some bank officials. In that context, many previous speakers referred to the over €800,000 being paid to one individual. When the banks submit their proposed cuts of 6% to 10% to the Minister for Finance next week, I hope these will contemplate very significant reductions in the salaries of the highest paid officials in the banking sector. I call on bankers to put the country first for once and to make very significant adjustments to their salaries.

Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Health in respect of the cost to the health service of the treatment of alcoholism? It is reported in this morning's edition of my local newspaper that €22 million - €4.4 million per year - has been spent in this regard in the past five years at University College Hospital Galway and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. The amount in question equates to 35,000 bed days. Mr. Joe Treacy, a well-known addiction counsellor and secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, has stated that the easy availability of alcohol in every supermarket and superstore throughout the country is making a significant contribution to the problem of alcoholism. This fact, along with the amount of advertising in respect of alcohol products, must be addressed. At a time when we are enduring the worst recession in the country's history and when people's finances are under severe pressure, it is incredible that there has been a significant increase in the amount spent on alcohol. Increasing numbers of people are being treated in hospital in respect of the abuse of alcohol.

It is time we revisited this matter and the Minister for Health must be involved and must provide information on the costs incurred in respect of it by the health service. We must address issues such as availability, the display of alcohol products in supermarkets and advertising. Many Senators have raised these issues in the past but it is time to take the matter seriously in light of the figures which have become available today.