188. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 will see the introduction of warning signs on alcohol being provided in English and Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10492/23]

Stephen Donnelly Minister for Health

Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act requires that health warnings and information relating to a HSE website on alcohol, must also be displayed on notices in licensed premises, on websites which sell alcohol products and on the labels of alcohol products with information on the grams of alcohol and calories of the product.

In the case of the notices to be displayed in licensed premises and the notices on websites which sell alcohol, the information must be in both the Irish and the English language. In the case of labels on alcohol products, the information is required in the English language only. The decision to restrict the labelling to the English language only was taken in order that the obligations on businesses would be as proportionate as possible. Draft regulations under section 12 of the Act are currently with the World Trade Organisation for consultation.