Alcohol Act implementation group
Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asks for an implementation group on the Public Health (Alcohol) Act involving industry and distributors. The Taoiseach agrees to pass it on, but says such a group should also include public health advocates and supporters of early implementation.
With regard to the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, will the Taoiseach request the Minister for Health to set up an implementation group with drinks industry manufacturers and distributors to ensure the legislation is implemented properly and fully, as appropriate, to ensure clarification on the practicalities of the implementation where necessary and to ensure manufacturers and distributors get the same equal treatment to retailers, who have been given an opportunity to work with the Department on implementation?
Comment on this
I will certainly pass Deputy Fitzpatrick's request on to the Minister, Deputy Harris. I would think that any implementation group should not merely be about industry, retailers and manufacturers. This is, after all, public health legislation. We need to ensure that any such group would include public health advocates and those who want to see this implemented as soon as possible.