Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health his proposals in relation to the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill; his views on whether the Bill should contain measures on the labelling of alcohol, a minimum price of alcohol, and a dedicated training programme for all alcohol retailers and their staff before an alcohol licence or an off-licence permit can be renewed; the other measures he is proposing to take to tackle the misuse of alcohol in Irish society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56886/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Real and tangible proposals are being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the National Substance Misuse Strategy report. I intend to submit these proposals to the Government for consideration and approval as soon as possible. I emphasise that these proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including the areas mentioned by the Deputy, such as legislation on minimum unit pricing, which is about setting a statutory floor price per gram of alcohol; access and availability of alcohol, including of course structural separation in retail units where alcohol is sold; and advertising and sponsorship. As part of the process of developing these proposals, my Department is in continuing discussions with various Departments, including the Department of Justice and Equality. Discussions with the latter have been based on the implementation of the recommendations of the National Substance Misuse Strategy report, in so far as they apply to that Department; and in particular to the issue of the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets. In the meantime, work by officials in my Department on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation governing, among others, minimum unit pricing and labelling of alcohol, 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.