Sale of alcohol legislation
Robert Dowds asks whether the delayed sale-of-alcohol Bill can be brought forward because of alcohol-related hospital admissions; the Taoiseach says preparatory committee work will begin but the Bill remains some way off.
I was looking at the updated legislative programme and the sale of alcohol Bill has been put back by six months. The Taoiseach reminded us that around 2,000 hospital beds are occupied as a result of alcohol abuse so could this be introduced sooner?
Comment on this
This is a massive project so the Bill is some time away. The committee dealing with social policy will look at the issues that have been prepared by the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, and the Minister for Justice and Equality in respect of alcohol. That meeting will take place in a couple of weeks but the Bill is some time away. We will keep the Deputy informed.