Dáil Question on minimum pricing for alcohol
21st May 2013 - Alan Farrell TD
To ask the Minister for Health if proposals to include minimum pricing of alcohol will be legislated for; if so, when he expects to publish legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply from Minister in the Department of Health, Alex White T.D.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that real and tangible proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the National Substance Misuse Strategy report. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing which is about setting a statutory floor price per gram of alcohol.
The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has considered these proposals and I intend to bring forward specific proposals for consideration by Government as soon as possible.
In the meantime work on developing a framework for the necessary Department of Health legislation, which I anticipate will be available later this year or early next year, is continuing. For example, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, a health impact assessment is being commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The health impact assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact.
Alan Farrell TD
Dublin FingalAlan Farrell is the Chairperson of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. He is also the Fine Gael Dáil spokesperson on…
Related news
Independent audit of Dublin Airport passenger numbers needed – Farrell
The Transport Minister is being asked to order an independent audit of how Dublin Airport counted passengers last year by…
25th February 2024Sinn Féin’s Garda recruitment plans unfeasible and misleading - Farrell
Sinn Féin's pledge to recruit up to 2,000 new Gardaí annually is an unfeasible and misleading political pledge that overlooks…
25th January 2024Apprenticeship programmes see 54% increase in registrations between 2020 - 2023 – Farrell
There has been major progress in delivering apprenticeship programmes and the good work must continue, a Fine Gael TD has…
3rd January 2024