Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil welcomes the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. Harmful drinking is a major issue. More than 8,000 people were treated for problem alcohol use in 2012. Alcohol is associated with 2,000 beds being occupied every night in the acute hospital sector, one quarter of injuries suffered by those presenting at emergency departments and over half of all attendances at specialised addiction treatment centres. I have first-hand experience of this situation in that I have worked in many of Dublin city's accident and emergency departments, as well as for the NHS. I know the trauma that alcohol causes the people involved as well as to the staff of accident and emergency departments.

It is estimated that three people will die in Ireland everyday as a result of alcohol. That equates to 88 deaths per month and more than 1,000 lives lost every year. This is five times more than the number of road traffic deaths every year. A study by the HSE in 2012 estimated that alcohol-related costs amounted to approximately €3.7 billion per annum. For these reasons, Fianna Fáil is supportive of the legislative measures to curb alcohol abuse and excessive consumption. We aim to strike a balance in our amendments and to be solution driven and pragmatic.