Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health in regard to the recommendations made by the steering group report on the national substance misuse strategy, if he will clarify where the report states, "Commence Section 9 (Structural Separation) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008", this refers to section 9(1)([i]a[/i]) or (1)([i]b[/i]). [10492/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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At the end of paragraph 35 on page 18 of chapter 2, the Steering Group of the National Substance Misuse Strategy recommended as follows:

Commence Section 9 (Structural Separation) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008.

At paragraph 32 of the same chapter, the Steering Group wrote that 'Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 provides for the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets'; and hence what was mainly contemplated by the Steering Group were the substantial provisions on structural separation in Section 9 (1A) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 - though the powers of commencement of these provisions are vested in the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered banning the retailing of alcohol at below invoice cost price to ensure that retailers cannot reclaim 23% of the cost of the loss leader in their VAT return, thus saving the State an average of €21 million each year. [10493/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In its report on alcohol, the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group recommended - among other things - the introduction of a legislative basis for minimum pricing per gram of alcohol. As minimum pricing is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels for alcohol products that must be legally observed by retailers, its primary function would be thus to discourage at risk levels of alcohol consumption. This recommendation is being actively considered as part of the development of an Action Plan in advance of proposals being drafted for Government.