Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I note from today's newspapers that the Government has finally decided to take action on below-cost selling of alcohol, which I welcome and, I am sure, all sides of the House will welcome. Speaking as somebody who comes from a Border county, the difficulty is that the recent increase in excise on wines and spirits will have a detrimental effect on cross-Border trade. Whenever an opportunity might arise, if the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White, who is responsible for this area, is coming into the House, I ask that the Leader include on the agenda for discussion this matter and whether he is in discussions with his counterpart in the United Kingdom. According to the media reports, a basket of alcohol items, which costs €220 in the South, costs €160 in the North. That is a substantial difference, way above what would be the norm in terms of the North-South balance. With Christmas fast approaching, it is inevitable that there will be long queues going into Newry and Enniskillen coming out of my county and the north west as a result of this significant differential. I wish it were otherwise. I wish consumers were a little more responsible about the manner in which they consume alcohol but, unfortunately, the reality is the opposite.

It is a serious issue. It is not only serious in terms of the health implications of people consuming too much alcohol - it is a drug, the same as tobacco, and consumers do not seem to realise its potency. It is also about the impact it will have on cross-Border trade, particularly in counties all across the southern end of the Border which at retail level have been struggling in the recession over the past number of years. I would ask the Leader whether he would include that item as an agenda item in the context of the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, coming before the House.