Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views of the recent position paper on alcohol treatment systems and services published by an organisation (details supplied) at the request of the Health Service Executive; if the State has endorsed the World Health Declaration on Alcohol and Young People adopted in Sweden in 2001; the steps she is taking to implement the terms of the directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15729/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the position paper received by the Health Service Executive (HSE) from Alcohol Action Ireland entitled "Alcohol Treatment Systems and Services" is being actively considered by the HSE in the context of its input and response to deliberations on the development of a new National Drug Strategy by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I would assure the Deputy that the policies and measures being taken by the Government on alcohol misuse are consistent with the aims and objectives of the World Health Organisation's 2001 Declaration on Young People and Alcohol.

A key priority for the Government is to protect young people from the harm caused by alcohol misuse. In order to achieve this, we are taking a twin-track approach, involving, on the one hand, policies and interventions targeted at vulnerable populations and, on the other, policies targeted at the population at large to reduce the overall level of alcohol misuse in society. The measures announced this week by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to licensing law form part of our response. Today I have announced further restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol which aim to reduce the exposure of young people to such messages.