Written answers

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in introducing the recommendations arising from the national strategy of substances misuse which includes alcohol, particularly the need for structural separation of alcohol products from other products in supermarkets and other stores; if he intends to give statutory effect to section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13471/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that real and tangible proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the National Substance Misuse Strategy report. These proposalscover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including minimum unit pricing, advertising of alcohol, and the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets. My Department is also working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality in relation to, inter alia, section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, which deals with the structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets. The recommendation of the Substance Misuse Steering Group in this vein was to commence Section 9 of that Act.

The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has considered these proposals and I intend to bring forward specific proposals for consideration by Government as soon as possible.In the meantime, work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health 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.

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