Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer TD has welcomed the commitment by the Minister of State with responsibility for primary care, Roisin Shortall to bring forward a public health bill to address the problem of the misuse and consumption of alcohol by mid-year.

Minister Shortall and Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, attended the Committee meeting today to discuss the findings of the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy report and provide members with an overview of some of the evidence presented by the Steering Group on the adverse implications of alcohol on society.

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “As a society we have debated our misuse and consumption of alcohol for many years but there comes a point when there is a need to move from debate to political action. On this issue that time is now. No longer can those charged with devising and implementing public policy abdicate responsibility on this important matter of public health.

“I welcome the Minister’s commitment to bring forward a public health bill to address the issue of alcohol misuse by mid-year. The Minister confirmed that a reference group from the Committee on Health and Children will work with both her Department and the Steering Group in developing a robust set of measures to tackle alcohol misuse. This initiative will ensure that the recommendations contained in the Committee’s Report on The Misuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs and the Steering Group Report On a National Substance Misuse Strategy will form part of the proposals to be brought forward by the Minister.

“It is a responsibility to tackle this pressing public health issue which has driven all members of the Committee in presenting a detailed set of options which will assist in tackling alcohol misuse. We recognise that no single intervention or measure alone will work – what is required is a multifaceted approach which addresses the broad spectrum of factors which contribute to alcohol misuse. That is why we have made proposals around advertising, education and pricing. I hope that the Minister’s commitment to engage further with the Committee will deliver a significant change in public policy on alcohol.”

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