Taoiseach promises Bill to tackle issues raised

THE TAOISEACH and the Minister for Health have expressed concern at the findings of Dr Hope's report.

Bertie Ahern said he and Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan would later this week be publishing the basis of a Bill they hoped to bring in before the summer on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

"It requires immediate action," Mr Ahern added. "These are very important issues. They have to be dealt with. It requires legislation and we hope before the summer recess that the Houses of the Oireachtas will pass the legislation." The new laws are expected to restrict the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and garage forecourts.

Minister for Health Mary Harney described the level of alcohol abuse in Ireland as "very serious" and said she was particularly concerned at the incidence of abuse among very young people. She also pointed to the role of parents and their influence on their children's drinking.

Minister of State for Health Promotion, Pat the Cope Gallagher, said the evidence gathered would clarify the scale of the harm being caused by alcohol. "Of particular concern is the level of harm caused to others through homicides, alcohol-related street violence, domestic violence or alcohol-related road deaths and injuries."