Senator Sharon Keogan: I call for the immediate reversal of the Government's decision to impose a new stand-alone labelling requirement on alcohol bottles sold in Ireland. Every Member supports the responsible consumption of alcohol and wants to reduce alcohol harm but this policy will do nothing to achieve that goal. It is a misguided solo run that puts Irish jobs and producers and our international reputation at risk, all for no proven public health gain.

The first point is simple: the labels will not work. That is not just my opinion; it is backed by decades of research. Numerous peer review studies show health warning labels on alcohol have, at best, marginal impact on drinking behaviour. Consumers are already well aware alcohol should be consumed in moderation.

Ireland has taken this step alone. We are now completely at odds with EU policy and the principles of the Single Market. The Assembly of European Wine Regions has publicly called for EU opposition to Ireland's labelling law. In short, we are shouting into the void while our European partners look on in disbelief and disapproval.

In addition to this, we face an imminent trade war with the US, to whom we export more than €1 billion worth of alcohol. We just fought to have the EU exclude liquor from its retaliatory tariffs, yet we plan to undo that work with these labels, which the US market does not want and will not accept. I call on this House to act. We need to support Irish producers, use common sense and scrap this damaging, costly and ineffective labelling policy before the damage becomes permanent.

Senator Seán Kyne: Senator Keogan raised the issue of labels on alcohol bottles and that we have taken steps alone ahead of, or in isolation from, the EU. I do not know the latest on it. I know concerns have been expressed. I will engage with the Minister on this matter. We obviously do not want to do anything that will jeopardise markets and cause upset to trading partners and colleagues. We led on smoking, through the now Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. He led, and this country led, on that matter. Whether this is a road we need to go down, I do not know. We all know that alcohol has harmful effects. Whether that needs to be on labels on bottles, I do not know, but I will certainly seek an update on that matter.

Senator Boyhan has talked of the shared island forum, and I wish the Taoiseach well on that. I have written to him on my behalf and on behalf of the Deputy Leader, Senator O'Loughlin, requesting the Taoiseach to come to the Chamber, if possible before the recess, to talk about the shared island forum and our all-island economy. We are awaiting a response to that letter, and it is to be hoped he will be able to facilitate us on that before the summer recess or when his schedule allows.