Alcohol and breast cancer Bill
Deputy O’Reilly welcomed International Women’s Day and raised the alcohol Bill in light of alcohol’s link to breast cancer, asking about the Minister’s reflections on Oireachtas debate. The Taoiseach said reflection was appropriate, noted the Bill was still in the Seanad, and urged members to let it take its course.
I wish the Taoiseach a happy International Women's Day and remind him that alcohol is one of the leading contributors to breast cancer, a disease which sadly kills many women in this country.
Yesterday the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, launched a new website, www.askaboutalcohol.ie and encouraged us all to think about and manage our drinking. Sinn Féin strongly welcomes this website. I was a little disturbed to hear that the Minister of State is reflecting on the discussions to date in the Oireachtas because I think those are the discussions which take place at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, since there has been very little discussion on the floor of the House of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2016. This Bill is now a year old and we need it expedited as a matter of urgency. On International Women's Day, given that alcohol contributes to breast cancer, when will this legislation progress?
Comment on this
Reflection is a very important part of the democratic process. When people raise issues of concern and in the public interest those should be reflected upon. This Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad and has to take its course there where Members will want to contribute and do their business before it comes here. We are not guillotining Bills any more. Let people have their say as they wish. The Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy is perfectly correct to reflect carefully on issues raised by Deputies from any part of the House or indeed by Members of the Seanad.