84. Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children  the response given by Ireland to the World Health Organisation European alcohol action plan, 2000-2005 which stated that what is needed now is to exercise political will, to mobilise civil society and carry out systematic programmes in every member state. [15845/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power): Ireland, as a member of the WHO European region, has endorsed the European charter on alcohol, the European alcohol action plan, and the declaration on young people and alcohol. These documents have provided ethical principles and goals for advancing alcohol policy and a template of strategies for alcohol action. When drafting its reports, the strategic task force on alcohol framed its recommendations using the ten strategy areas outlined in the WHO European charter on alcohol. These reports provide approximately 100 recommendations and significant progress has been made in implementing them across a range of sectors.