John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senators O'Donovan and Coghlan on their appointments as Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach, respectively. I also congratulate Senator Jerry Buttimer and all the other leaders on their appointments as group leaders. This is my first time as a Member of the Seanad. I get the sense that there will be a great degree of working together and consensus in this Seanad, which is welcome.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill approved by the previous Government last December provides for minimum pricing and health labelling of alcohol products and so on. During the last Dáil I was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport which published a report on sports sponsorship and so on. There is a need to progress the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and, in terms of a sponsorship, a need to identify other streams of funding for sporting bodies. In that context, I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, of a €1 million fund for the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in respect of training and so on, which is an indication of equality of provision in the sports area. Had the Government not provided that funding those organisations would have had to seek it elsewhere.

Will the Leader invite the relevant Minister to this House to provide us with an update on the progress of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill? I am aware that there are obstacles in that regard from a European point of view but I would very much welcome an update on the issue.