Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Heaven knows that public representatives of all descriptions can sometimes be accused validly of hyperbole and exaggeration, but it is no exaggeration to say that today is momentous and historic. I first engaged on this issue as chairperson of an informal cross-party Oireachtas group on alcohol misuse in 2012. That was one year after the Labour Party and Fine Gael ensured a programme for Government commitment to deal once and for all with alcohol misuse and use in this country in the context of public health. On that note, it would be remiss of me and the House not to acknowledge the contribution made by successive Ministers. The former Minister for Health, Senator James Reilly, led the charge on this in the first instance and stuck with it. The then Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, worked on this for a period, followed by her successor, Alex White. I engaged closely with him on this legislation and he showed considerable commitment to it. He is no longer in either House but his commitment should be recognised and acknowledged. The Minister for Health from 2014 to 2016 was the Taoiseach and I thank him and the current Minister for ensuring the job has been completed.

Many of us have been criticised for introducing the provisions on labelling. We need to acknowledge that we have an important role as legislators to protect the interest of everyone in the country. We need to protect the health of everyone and to use every weapon and tool available to us in our armoury to protect the health of the people. That is what the labelling provision is about.

It is true that we have all been lobbied. I agree with Senator McDowell in this regard. We live in a democracy and I have no difficulty whatsoever being lobbied by anyone who is trying to persuade me of the merits of his or her argument. We are all mature sensible and responsible individuals and legislators. We weigh up and balance the arguments made from both sides and we come down on either side. We make an informed decision. Thankfully, in this country lobbying is regulated and is supposed to happen behind a pane of glass. It is transparent and accountable, as it should be, and we need to put that on record. Everyone is entitled to lobby even if we do not agree with the position. I have no difficulty with that in this democracy.

I thank the Minister and his officials for their steadfast effort and Trojan work in sticking with this over a period of seven or eight years. Today we can say with some certainty that we have acted to save people's lives.