15 Noll 2011, 16:49
The Committee on Health and Children today, Thursday, 15th December met with representatives from Retail Ireland and Ballymun Youth Action Project Limited to discuss the effects of marketing alcohol and the effects of this on young people.
Chairman of the Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, TD said: \"Our meeting today provided the Committee with an opportunity to express our concerns about some of the methods currently being used by certain retailers in the promotion and marketing of alcohol to young people. We also heard of the detrimental effects of alcohol abuse on young people and how this impacts on communities.
The Committee decided to prioritise this issue and during the past number of months we have met with a wide range of interested parties, stakeholders, industry groups, health organisations, youth and community groups to ensure we got a complete picture and a thorough understanding of the major issues involved in alcohol marketing and its impact on young people.
We have heard some worrying facts and figures and are concerned with the increased levels of alcohol use in our young people. The ready availability of cheap alcohol together with the promotional methods and techniques used to promote alcohol use by young people need to be balanced by adequate education on the consequences of alcohol misuse.
I would like to express my thanks to the various people and organisations that have come before the Committee. Their contributions have informed us and will now assist us in drafting our report on this priority issue. I’m glad to say that we are on target with the drafting of this report and its planned publication and as I have previously said, I intend that our report will assist the Government in its plans to address the problem of alcohol misuse in a comprehensive and meaningful way.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Cáit Hayes,
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Communications Unit,
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Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3883
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cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Fine Gael
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sinn Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fianna Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent