Substance Misuse

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2012

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Ceisteanna (522, 523, 524)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

617 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 613 and 614 of 21 February 2012, the progress that has been made regarding the development of an action plan arising out of the findings and recommendations of the national substance misuse steering group published on 7 February 2012; when this action plan will be finalised and presented to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28366/12]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

618 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress made in progressing the commitment made at the conference on alcohol misuse in January 2012 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. [28367/12]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

619 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to discuss the recommendations in the national substance misuse strategy report to introduce statutory codes on alcohol advertising and marketing under section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and in view of the fact that the BAI is developing new general commercial and children’s communications codes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28368/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 to 619, inclusive, together.

Officials are working on this Action Plan, which will also include proposals on developing a broadcast code to address alcohol advertising and marketing to children, along with legislation on minimum unit pricing of alcohol based on the recommendation in the Steering Group's report; and in this regard, there are both plans to discuss the former with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and proposals for the latter to conduct joint research with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in Northern Ireland. The objective of this research would be to model the potential impact of various different levels of minimum unit prices for alcoholic products in both jurisdictions and officials from both Departments have met to discuss this policy matter.

Question No. 620 answered with Question No. 563.