Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Health if he or his Department has engaged with the Scottish Government about the planned introduction of the minimum pricing of alcoholic products in that jurisdiction in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28219/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that no formal engagement has taken place with the Scottish Government relating to their Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill 2010 - though there has been some exchange of information on the matter of minimum pricing of alcohol in the context of the work of the British-Irish Council Sectoral Group on the Misuse of Drugs.

A National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group was established in 2009. It is examining the development of policy to deal with a wide range of key issues relating to the supply, pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol - including the issue raised by the Deputy - along with measures for the policy areas of prevention strategies, treatment, rehabilitation, alcohol and substance dependency research and information. The report of the Steering Group is close to completion; I expect to receive proposals in the coming months and I will then brief my colleagues in Government on these.