James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Alcohol Abuse established under Sustaining Progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26818/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006 a Working Group established as a Special Initiative under Sustaining Progress published a report entitled "Working Together to Reduce the Harms caused by Alcohol Misuse". In November 2006 my Department established an Implementation Group in order to progress implementation of the 29 actions, across a range of sectors, identified in this Report. The purpose of the Implementation Group was to monitor and report on progress on the implementation of the actions identified in the Working Group's Report. The Implementation Group met throughout 2007 and in early 2008 and its Report is due to be published shortly. The Report of the Implementation Group will outline the progress made to date and identify where continued progress is needed in order to deliver on the commitment in the Programme for Government.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to provide early intervention programmes in all social, health and justice services to ensure early detection and appropriate responses to high risk drinking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26820/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to tackling the problems of alcohol misuse in society. Insofar as the health sector is concerned, the Health Service Executive is developing protocols for the roll out of brief intervention programmes to detect high risk and harmful drinking in individuals before or shortly after the early signs of alcohol related problems on a pilot basis in the acute hospital services. The HSE is also working with the Irish College of General Practitioners in building capacity for general practitioners to use brief intervention programmes. In addition, it is currently running a media campaign highlighting the dangers of underage drinking.

My Department is also working closely with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the measures recently announced in the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 2008. This Bill strengthens public order provisions to curtail alcohol consumption in public places while tackling the increased visibility and availability of alcohol through retail outlets and off-licences and tightening the conditions under which premises such as late bars and nightclubs can remain open beyond normal closing time.