Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 613 of 16 September 2009, if the meeting with the Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland on the possibility of a joint North-South initiative to tackle alcohol promotions has taken place; if so, the response and views of the Minister and the Northern Executive to such a proposal; if this meeting has not taken place, when will this meeting take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40023/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I met the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, MLA, on 27 October. We agreed on the desirability of developing a joint North-South initiative to tackle alcohol promotions and have asked our respective officials to discuss details of such an initiative. The first meeting of the officials group will take place in the coming weeks.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received the first report on the implementation and compliance with the new voluntary Code of Practice On The Display And Sale Of Alcohol Products In Mixed Trading Premises from a group (details supplied) which was due for publication in September 2009; if he will provide and publish a copy of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40024/09]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the fact that one large retailer (details supplied) has not signed up to the new voluntary Code of Practice On The Display And Sale Of Alcohol Products In Mixed Trading Premises, and as a result compliance with the voluntary code cannot be monitored at the large number of outlets here; his views on that the voluntary code is compromised; if he will commence with Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 as he committed to if the voluntary code did not work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40025/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

Mr Padraig White, Chairperson of Responsible Retailing of Alcohol in Ireland (RRAI), submitted the first compliance report on implementation of the Code of Practice on the Display and Sales of Alcohol Products in Mixed Trading Premises to me on 30 September.

In light of the high levels of compliance with the Code outlined in Mr White's report, coupled with recent increases in RRAI membership which will ensure that a much greater number of mixed trading outlets will be subject to compliance audit in future years, I have concluded that implementation of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 is not required at this time.

I circulated a copy of Mr White's report, together with a covering note outlining my conclusion that implementation of section 9 is not required at this stage, to all Oireachtas members on 27 October. The report is also available on my Department's website www.justice.ie.