Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill which we passed in this House, on 10 October 2018. It is important legislation that will hopefully change our outlook on alcohol. I raise the issue in light of statements that have been made in the press in recent days regarding taxi loads of students and others turning up at early houses in Cork city at 7 a.m. It is a an issue at the moment. Our affinity with alcohol must be addressed, in particular cheap alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences.

I took issue with the Bill but I always supported the minimum pricing of alcohol as that would put a base price on alcohol, which is something we have long needed to do. The Bill must be enacted because we must put a base price on alcohol to prevent situations such as those witnessed in recent weeks such as the so-called Christmas Day celebrations in November, freshers' weeks and rag weeks, among others, whereby large volumes of cheap alcohol make it onto the streets mainly through off-licences and supermarkets. The issue must be addressed. The way we decided to do it was through minimum pricing and that tool was to put a floor price on alcohol. We need the legislation to be enacted because society needs the measures it contains to be put in place.

It is frightening that in some places alcohol is cheaper than water. That is crazy. One can also buy alcohol cheaper than milk. That is not right. That is a real problem for society. We need to change what we are doing and address the issue. The Bill has the ability to do that. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Harris, to this House to discuss the status of the Bill in terms of having it signed into law. I realise there is a European dimension to the issue. Perhaps we could move away from the concerns in that regard and enact the other elements of the legislation in order to provide for a better society.