Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the issue of below cost selling of alcohol in large retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56411/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Real and tangible proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group report - including the recommendation on introducing a minimum price per gram of alcohol. I intend to submit these to Government for consideration and approval as soon as possible.

In the meantime, work on developing a framework for the necessary legislation is continuing. For example, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, a health impact assessment is being commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. Scotland commissioned the same sort of assessment before it drafted its legislation on minimum unit pricing. The health impact assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact.