Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister with open arms today. I have been looking forward to this day for a very long time but I will adhere to the rules.

I welcome the amendment. A key aspect of the legislation is the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol products. The Bill instructs the Minister for Health to review the effectiveness of this measure three years after commencement and outlines a number of factors that should be accounted for in the review such as patterns of consumption. That is important as the impact of any policy proposed by these Houses must be closely monitored and measured. We have now added alcohol related presentations at health facilities to the list of factors that the Minister should consider. It is a very positive addition to the Bill and it will ensure that we keep up-to-date, accurate information on the scale of alcohol harm in society as well as the impact on health services. That will provide an important backdrop to our assessment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill as a whole. This amendment was first introduced in the Seanad by Senator Devine and me almost two years ago and I am delighted it was finally agreed in the Dáil. I thank Deputy Louise O'Reilly for pursuing the issue in the Lower House. I especially thank the Minister for agreeing to it and I thank Members of both Houses for giving it their support. I hope that people stick to the amendments today as best they can.