Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many people are rightfully interested in this issue and there should be no ambiguity about any Member's position on this. My position is that I am as concerned as every other Member of the House about the abuse of alcohol and that it must be tackled head on. It is a serious health issue, as was outlined earlier. It has implications in a whole range of areas. I know this very well from having been a former educator, among other roles I have had. It is a very real issue.

I want to address the question specifically raised very eloquently by Senators Lombard and Wilson. I come to this from an experience I share with Senator Wilson, representing the people of a Border area. I point out to the Minister - I am not exaggerating or engaging in populism, this is a fact - that jobs could be at stake in the Border area. It is very difficult to replace jobs. If we do not co-ordinate minimum pricing in the Republic and in the North, we will run a risk of the dislocation of jobs in the Border counties. This is a significant concern. I was in a supermarket this morning-----