Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator Landy on the announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills of the two and a half resource hours for children with Down's syndrome. I question the continuing need for an assessment and I ask the Minister for Education and Skills to reconsider that. Why do we need a child with mild Down's syndrome to go through an assessment procedure? However, it is very welcome. I sincerely congratulate the parents and Down Syndrome Ireland who advocated on behalf of these children. As I so often say, children's rights are parents' rights because it is so often parents who advocate on behalf of their children.

I welcome the announcement that Diageo is stepping down from the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking campaign. It is an overdue announcement. I do not think it had a role on the board of the campaign. I have remaining questions over the secretariat and the names collected to date. Who owns those names? That may be a question for the Data Protection Commissioner. I concur with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who on the announcement of Diageo's withdrawal said, "I don't think it's appropriate that the drinks industry should be actively involved in campaigns around public health for the obvious reason". I agree with him on this point. Alcohol Focus Scotland has stated: "The industry uses partnership working to gain public support and credibility for ineffective policy measures, whilst at the same time misrepresenting and distorting evidence on effective regulatory interventions."

An advertisement has recently been placed by Drinkaware. It is hiring a small team for its ambitious strategic plan. Critical to that is its new focus on education. One of the roles advertised is an education programme manager for developing Drinkaware's education programme targeted at young people, parents and teachers. It wants to work and develop an education programme for delivery as part of the SPHE curriculum in secondary schools. This curriculum has recently been revised and the HSE has given input on alcohol related harm. There is no role for the drinks industry in our schools. Drinkaware is funded by the drinks industry. It is reprehensible that it even considers going into our schools to educate our young people on drink. Would we allow representatives of manufacturers of other products to go into schools and educate them on why they should have less of the product? I find it reprehensible.

I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her officials have been approached by Drinkaware. I hope we get a categorical "No" that Drinkaware has no role in our schools.