Vol. 543 No. 5
336 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he has taken in response to recommendation one of section B of the Commission on Liquor Licensing interim report on off-licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/01]
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform established a Commission on Liquor Licensing in November 2000 to review the licensing system. The Commission, inter alia, published an interim report on off-licensing in May 2001 and recommended that the Minister for Health and Children should establish a broadly-based task force to provide advice to Government and public bodies on measures to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm. An interdepartmental working group was subsequently established to co-ordinate a response to the recommendations contained in the interim report and following my Department's participation in that working group, I have agreed to proceed with the establishment of the task force. I have written to a range of organisations requesting that nominees be put forward as members of this task force. As soon as I have received a complete response, the first meeting will be arranged.
