Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 310 of 25 January 2011, the position regarding same. [5428/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 makes provision for the test purchasing of alcohol products. The primary objective of the scheme, which entered into force on 1 October 2010, is to enable An Garda Síochána to target those licensed premises which are suspected of engaging in illegal sales of alcohol to young people.

It also provides that the Minister for Justice and Law Reform shall issue guidelines in respect of the procedures to be followed with respect of the practical operation of the scheme following consultation with the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Health and Children. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, up to 17 March, 2011, section 14 of the 2008 Act has been invoked in respect of 29 licensed premises. Statistics provided are operational and liable to change.