233. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health his plans to recommend the introduction of a minimum price order for the sale of alcohol in view of the below cost selling practice by some multinational supermarkets and the consequent impact of this practice on social order and public health. [36535/11]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): Minimum pricing is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels for alcohol products that must be legally observed by retailers; it’s primary function would be to discourage at risk levels of alcohol consumption. A National Substance Misuse Strategy was established in 2009. It is examining the development of policy to deal with a wide range of key issues relating to the supply, pricing, availability and marketing of alcohol – including the question of a minimum price for alcohol - along with measures for the policy areas of prevention strategies, treatment, rehabilitation and substance dependency, research and information. The report of the Steering Group is close to completion. I expect to receive proposals in the coming months and I will then brief my colleagues in Government on these.