Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason for a delay in commissioning the health impact assessment for minimum pricing; the current status of the tender process; and the proposed timescale for the completion of this assessment. [57154/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in the final stages of agreeing the tender documentation for commissioning a health impact assessment of a minimum unit pricing regime; this is being done in conjunction with Northern Ireland. The documentation inevitably required a legal assessment and analysis as part of this process; and though this proved protracted, I am glad to say to the Deputy that this is almost complete. It is envisaged that the health impact assessment should be available in the third or fourth quarter of next year.

The Deputy is already aware that 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.