Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude now. I did not get a chance to speak on Second Stage and I chaired the committee that brought many of the recommendations to the former Minister and I want to give the Minister of State my support. The key point is that we have to take a stand and start to address how we can combat the misuse of alcohol in our society. That requires a collective response from all sides of the House and a willingness to engage and examine what we can do that is in the best interests of our fellow citizens. That means doing what is in the common good in terms of addressing the overarching principle of health advocacy and ensuring a reduction of the misuse of alcohol.

I will conclude by quoting a letter from the parent of a child who was killed which was published in The Irish Times a few months ago. It states: "I don't look on myself as a neo-prohibitionist; all I ask is that the whole subject of dirt-cheap alcohol that is causing so many problems in our country be addressed." That is the kernel of the problem. Access to cheap alcohol that can be purchased in many outlets is the problem. What we need is not a prohibition or a nanny state but for this issue to be tackled through the introduction of minimum unit pricing. If we can do that and deal collectively with alcohol misuse, we will have done the state a lot of service.