Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the recommendations of the Task Force on Alcohol that are relevant to her Department that have been implemented; when she will implement the remaining recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29973/07]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategic Task Force on Alcohol, which was established in January 2002, published two reports which together provide approximately 100 recommendations across a wide range of sectors. Many of the recommendations are cross sectoral and require the cooperation of different stakeholders. My Department is maintaining a coordinating role in relation to alcohol policy and is continuing to pursue implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. To date progress has also been made in terms of research projects, the delivery of Responsible Server Training, awareness raising campaigns etc. Work is also continuing in a number of other areas.

A number of the recommendations contained in the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol concern a reduction in the exposure of children and adolescents to alcohol advertising, marketing and sponsorship. In response to these, the Department entered into negotiations with the broadcasting, media and drinks industries to restrict alcohol advertising, sponsorship and sales promotions / marketing practices. This resulted in the establishment of Central Copy Clearance Ireland which addresses the issue of the content of alcohol advertisements. A Voluntary Code of Practice on Advertising was also agreed which addresses the issue of placement of advertising. The Alcohol Marketing and Communications Monitoring Body was put in place to oversee the implementation of the Voluntary Codes.

The first Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body for 2006 was submitted to the Minister for Health and Children for consideration on 19th July 2007. Following consideration of the Report my Department has decided to commence discussions with the relevant stakeholders with a view to strengthening and expanding the current voluntary codes on alcohol marketing and communications in order to provide significantly greater protection for children and young people. I will give further consideration to the possibility of using legislation in this area depending on the outcome of these discussions.

With regard to sponsorship of sporting and youth events by alcohol companies my Department intends to raise this issue with the alcohol industry representatives during the course of the broader discussions on advertising and marketing referred to already.

Earlier this year, the Government approved the allocation close to €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support 19 community-based projects aimed at tackling Alcohol Related Harm. The intention of this funding is to facilitate interventions and supports to strengthen community-based responses to alcohol related harm.

While a number of youth cafés have emerged around the country on an ad hoc basis, an integrated approach is now proposed in the provision of youth cafés. The launch of the National Recreation Policy in September this year highlighted the Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés. Consideration is being given to how best to develop a coherent structured programme for the development of youth cafés as well as the most appropriate lead agency for the management and administration of a funding scheme.

On alcohol treatment and early interventions, the Health Service Executive is continuing to work with the Irish College of General Practitioners in respect of leading out brief interventions and treatment in primary care settings. The HSE is also working towards the establishment of systematic screening and brief interventions in acute hospital settings.

In 2006 a Report entitled "Working Together to Reduce the Harms Caused by Alcohol Misuse" was produced by a Working Group established under the Sustaining Progress Special Initiative on Alcohol and Drugs Misuse. The Working Group agreed on a programme of actions to deliver targeted results in relation to underage drinking, binge drinking and drink driving. An Implementation Group has now been established to monitor and report on progress on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. The Implementation Group's membership comprises key stakeholders in Government Departments and Agencies and the Social Partners and is expected to report by early 2008. My Department continues to actively support the work of the Implementation Group which is considering a broad range of issues such as alcohol labelling and the development of a voluntary Code of Practice for the Sale and Promotion of Alcohol in the off-trade/retail sector.