John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have great pleasure in welcoming Ms Childers to the Seanad today. She is a valued and respected colleague in the Labour Party. I had the good fortune only last week, at Ms Childers's invitation, to visit Brussels along with a group of 35 delegates from Laois and the midlands area. Not that we were in any doubt about it, but we could see at first hand her level of activity and work, the intensity of her work profile and the regard and respect with which she is held among her contemporaries and peers within the European Parliament structures for her work, particularly, as has been said by colleagues, in the areas of health and public health.

I want to ask Ms Childers about a matter of public health. I am not going to be a holy Joe or holier than thou. I like to take a drink - I am not anti-drink or teetotal - but we have mixed views and feelings in this country, particularly as policy makers and politicians, in our attitude to alcohol, particularly the abuse and excessive use of alcohol and the attendant social, domestic and health problems associated with it. Only last week horrific data came from the medical profession on the problems that are created as a result of alcohol abuse. What is happening at European level? While we criticise Europe a lot, it does drag Ireland kicking and screaming into a better world and a better place, as we are sometimes reluctant to bite the bullet ourselves. I am old enough to remember when we had the Carroll's GAA All Stars calendars and posters. The idea that a cigarette company could sponsor our elite GAA athletes would be regarded as an absurdity today.