Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with other speakers in expressing my sympathy to the family of Peter Mathews, who was a lovely colleague and a true gentleman. May he rest in peace.

I join with others who spoke about the case of Ava. It is something I have called for in the recent past. My feeling was we were getting closer to legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes. It is disappointing to me that it has not been achieved yet. When one hears of a case like this where, as Senator Black said, there is a 90% reduction, in the number of seizures the child experiences, it is just crazy that we cannot get our heads together. I am interested to hear what the Minister has to say directly on the issue.

Figures released by the Revenue Commissioners on alcohol consumption show it increased by 4.8% in 2016.The figures show that per capitaalcohol consumption was 11.46 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 plus in 2016, up from 10.93 litres per person. Increases were recorded in all categories, with the highest increase in the area of spirits, which obviously have a detrimental effect.

The figures highlight something of which we are all aware, namely, that we have an increasingly unacceptable level of alcohol consumption in the country. International studies show that a high average level of alcohol consumption in the population has a direct correlation to high levels of alcohol harm, not to mention the harm to the health of children and individuals as well as the severe burden on the health services.

This is an issue I have spoken on many times in the House. I am querying with the Leader when the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will be in this House again. I believe it is overdue at this point. Clearly, measures such as that Bill are needed to tackle this ever-increasing problem in the country.