According to reports by tribunals of inquiry and by the Comptroller and Auditor General the Government has given rise to some incredible litanies of mismanagement, misspending and sheer waste. I speak not only of the waste of money but also of the waste of human life.

The Tánaiste, as Minister for Health and Children, is aware of the report on alcohol misuse by young people, published in June 2004 by the Joint Committee on Health and Children. She is aware too of a strategic report on the same issue. According to the report of 2004, the cost of alcohol abuse is €2.4 billion per annum. The report states that 80% of this cost could be prevented if public policy measures were in place, and includes a list of policy recommendations.

Is the Tánaiste serious about any of these recommendations, particularly the key points? The Tánaiste's predecessor saw the light after years of strong but ineffective messages on cigarette packets, and introduced measures to control smoking. Does the Tánaiste accept that education makes little or no difference in regard to abuse of alcohol and that the environment must be shaped to control alcohol consumption?

Will the Tánaiste reverse her decision to abandon the alcohol products Bill and act on her predecessor's recommendation to introduce that legislation? Will she advise the Government to introduce random testing as the previous Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, promised? Will she implement the recommendations in the committee report, rather than the voluntary code? What is going on between her and the drinks industry that is so set on this code, which we know will make little or no difference?

Deputy Sargent is correct. Alcohol consumption is a serious problem. The issues, however, are wider than banning alcohol advertising.

We know that.

In many other countries where alcohol is widely advertised, perhaps even more than here, drinking patterns are very different. Therefore we must deal with many of the cultural and educational aspects of this issue.

The Minister is not doing that.

The Government has decided to deal with the advertising of alcohol products by way of a voluntary code. If that does not work we will introduce legislation.

It will not work. How long will the Government wait to find that out?

Let us give it a chance and see. We should not be negative. It will work but if it does not we will bring in legislation.

My question has not been answered. The Tánaiste did not say how long she will give to test this voluntary code. Does she understand the voluntary code is nothing new? It appears the Tánaiste has been duped by the drinks industry. It is regarded as acceptable for 33% of people under the age of 18 to see advertisements for alcohol products on television. The Government is playing Russian roulette with children.

The Tánaiste knows from research in New Zealand and the United States that the earlier children are exposed to alcohol and alcohol advertising the worse the situation is. A third of 16 year olds binge drink every week and Irish girls have the worst record for female binge drinking throughout Europe. Does the Tánaiste realise she is presiding over a situation in which our children are more and more being pickled in a sea of alcohol?

Will the Government put measures in place to control the availability of alcohol? Will the Tánaiste ensure random testing is brought in forthwith, as recommended by her ministerial predecessors, and to which the drinks industry willingly acceded?

What is stopping the Tánaiste and the Government introducing random testing and the alcohol products Bill, which was promised? Does the Tánaiste not act on the promises made in Government? Will she implement the key recommendations of the 2004 report, to which doctors have agreed, as have Deputy Gormley and other Members of this House? Why is the Tánaiste not introducing those recommendations? The voluntary code is nothing new and will not work.