Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
615 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the actions he will be undertaking to progress the commitment made at the conference on alcohol misuse in Armagh last month to work with the Northern Executive on the introduction of minimum pricing on an all-Ireland basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9260/12]
View answerThe first all island Conference on alcohol last month brought together policy makers and representatives of all sectors to explore common issues and challenges that need to be faced in order to reduce the harms caused by alcohol and to consider ways in which responses across the island of Ireland could be better coordinated. On February 7th I then launched the National Substance Misuse Strategy which inter aliaoutlined the Steering Groups plans to introduce a legislative basis for minimum pricing. This has led to a very useful and productive public debate on all matters raised in the report.
I intend to work with the Minister from Northern Ireland, Mr. Edwin Poots closely on this issue and to that effect officials from both Departments will meet in the coming weeks to progress it.
