Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the health service is properly resourced to deal with the health impacts of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53113/23]
View answerMy priority is to ensure that our health service is properly resourced to continue to provide quality and affordable healthcare services for all of our population.
In relation to the health impacts of alcohol, I have responsibility for the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. The primary objective of that Act is to reduce our population level of alcohol consumption in order to reduce the associated health harms.
In May this year, Ireland became the first country in the world to require comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products when I made Regulations under section 12 of the Act. In recent weeks I commenced section 19 of the Act which introduces a restriction on the times which alcohol advertisements can be shown on radio and television in order to reduce the exposure of our children and young people to advertisements for alcohol products. I will continue to work to reduce the health harms from alcohol in our population.
