Liam Twomey
Question:56 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on a health levy on the sale of all alcoholic drinks. [22802/02]
Written Answers. - Health Levy.
I have outlined my concerns about alcohol misuse on many occasions and the health promotion unit of my Department has been actively involved in a wide range of initiatives aimed at tackling this issue. In January of this year, I established a strategic task force on alcohol under the chairmanship of the chief medical officer of my Department. The task force is broadly based and is representative of experts from Government Departments, the health boards, NGOs, public health, health promotion, health and safety, education, the Garda Siochána, sport and recreation, parents, the drinks industry, alcohol treatment services and the health promotion unit. The task force produced an interim report in May this year and one of its recommendations is an increase in alcohol taxes. The task force suggests that the additional revenue collected should be used to implement the other recommendations contained in the report.