Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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148. To ask the Minister for Health if he will explain the undue delay in the public health (alcohol) Bill and his intentions in this regard, given the ongoing problems with alcohol misuse and the burden which these impose on the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44428/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government yesterday and will be published shortly.

The Bill includes provision for:

- minimum unit pricing to tackle cheap alcohol set at 10c/gram of alcohol;

- strict separation of alcohol products in retail outlets;

- compulsory health labelling on drinks requiring grams, calorie count, health warnings and a link to a public health website on alcohol containers;

- a requirement to display health warnings and a link to a public health website and to provide access to information on grams and calories in pubs and off-licences;

- advertisements to be strictly informative about the product concerned and subject to criminal sanction;

- a ban on advertising near schools, playgrounds and public transport;

- a 9pm broadcasting watershed for alcohol adverts;

- a prohibition of price-based promotions and general restrictions on promotions, and

- an enforcement regime with inspections by authorised HSE officers and penalties for non-compliance, including fixed payment notices.