Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he has powers under the provision of the 2008 Intoxicating Liquors Act to bring charges before the courts, if there is below cost selling of intoxicating liquor by some supermarkets and multiples; if so, has there been any breaches of the law in so far as court judgements are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42797/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Enforcement of the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2010, including the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, is a matter for the Garda. As regards below-cost selling of intoxicating liquor, the position is that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment revoked the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 in March 2006, thereby removing price controls from alcohol products. However, in March 2009, the Government agreed to include alcohol in the National Substance Misuse Strategy and a Steering Group was subsequently established under the aegis of the Departments of Health and Children and Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to develop proposals for integrating alcohol misuse into that Strategy.

I understand that the Steering Group has been examining a range of issues relating to alcohol policy, including pricing, and is due to submit its report, including policy recommendations, by the end of the year.