asked the Minister for Health if he will consider setting up a commission on the lines suggested in the Plaut report "Alcohol problem, a report to the nation" whereby the Departments of Health, Education, Social Welfare and Justice would participate with the breweries, distillers and temperance groups, and that the commission draw up a common policy for the whole Irish community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alcohol Problem.
4.
I have seen the American report referred to by the Deputy. On the problem of alcoholism I have already had the benefit of the advice given by the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Illness which reported in 1966. The matter is one which is also receiving the attention of the Medico Social Research Board. We also have an Irish National Council on Alcoholism which is widely representative of medical, legal, business, administrative, educational and social interests and in the short time that it has been established has made considerable progress towards the creation of an enlightened public opinion in regard to this problem. In consultation with my Department the council has recently decided to expand its activities and I look forward to considerable improvements in this matter.
The Deputy can rest assured that I am fully aware of the problem of alcoholism and I intend to give it a considerable amount of attention but I am not satisfied that any useful purpose would be served, at this stage, by setting up a commission on the lines suggested in the report to which he refers.