Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 181: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to deal effectively with the serious issue of alcohol abuse here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39057/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I am extremely aware of the negative effects of harmful drinking in society. These occur across a range of acute and chronic indicators including violence, public order offences, drink driving, under age drinking, unsafe sexual practice, lost productivity, accident and emergency department attendance, certain cancers and suicide.

The strategic task force on alcohol was established to recommend evidence-based measures to prevent and reduce alcohol related harm and published two reports with more than 100 recommendations. I am hopeful that with the full implementation of these measures we will begin to address the serious problems associated with harmful drinking.

A working group on alcohol was also recently established to help mobilise the stakeholders through social partnership to achieve a targeted and measurable reduction in alcohol misuse. The working group operates in the context of the special initiative on alcohol and drug misuse under Sustaining Progress.

The working group comprises the social partners, the relevant Departments, the Garda, the national drugs strategy team and the Health Service Executive. The working group seeks to agree a programme of actions which can deliver targeted results on under age drinking, binge drinking and drink driving. It is expected to produce a set of recommendations in late 2005.