Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for the briefing she provided yesterday. It was well attended and I found it most informative.

Any opportunity we have to discuss overconsumption of alcohol is to be welcomed. Unfortunately, Irish people have become famous worldwide for all the wrong reasons when it comes to our abuse and overconsumption of alcohol. That is unfortunate. It is fair to say that there is probably not a family in the country that has escaped the effects of overconsumption of alcohol and the dangers and addiction that comes with it. Any Bill that strives to attempt to lower consumption must be welcomed, and I will certainly support it.

I do not intend to go into the issues in great detail. A number of my colleagues have referred to minimum price per unit. That is a good idea, but it is vital we work in conjunction with our friends in Northern Ireland. I come from a Border county. We are going through tough economic times at the moment. I imagine the Minister of State can appreciate that. For anyone in business along the Border at the moment, the buzzword is survival. We are doing all we can to hang on in light of Brexit, the devaluation of sterling and the effects these changes are having on our local economy. It is vital from an economic perspective that anything we do in respect of minimum cost selling is done in conjunction with our friends North of the Border.

Reference was made to the separation issue. There seems to be considerable confusion. I realise we will discuss it in more detail shortly. There is considerable fear over what will be acceptable in small rural shops. Some clarity was offered on the question yesterday and my party will make an amendment along these lines. I welcome the opportunity to debate the question. Any time we spend talking about overconsumption of alcohol is time well spent.