Alcohol products bill
Mr. Gormley: Will the Tánaiste join me in condemning the comments of certain irresponsible public representatives that is all right to drink and drive? Does he agree that the Government’s own attitude to our biggest drug problem, alcohol, is somewhat ambivalent?
An Ceann Comhairle: Sorry, Deputy, that does not arise on the Order of Business.
Mr. Gormley: It pertains to promised legislation. The reason for the Government’s ambivalence is that it dropped the alcohol products Bill.
An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot have a debate on the issue.
Mr. Gormley: I am not debating, I am asking a question.
An Ceann Comhairle: If the Deputy has legislation in mind, he should ask a question on it.
Mr. Gormley: With regard to my question on the alcohol products Bill, I ask the Tánaiste to refrain from offering the stock answer about voluntary agreements. Will he join me in condemning those public representatives?
An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy should confine himself to the legislation.
Mr. Gormley: When will we have the alcohol products Bill?
An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Crawford asked about the alcohol products Bill yesterday and his question was answered.
The Tánaiste: The position regarding the alcohol products Bill is that voluntary agreements have been reached with the alcohol and advertising industries.
Mr. Gormley: It is always the same answer.
Mr. McHugh: Deputy Gormley does not want that answer; he wants a different one.
An Ceann Comhairle: Allow the Tánaiste to continue without interruption.
The Tánaiste: The Department, therefore, wishes to delay the introduction of this legislation pending the outcome and evaluation of the voluntary arrangements. I am aware it is hard for some people to accept that it is sometimes better to achieve ends by means of voluntary agreements than by compulsory legislation.
Mr. Gormley: The Government is kowtowing to the alcohol industry.
The Tánaiste: Did Deputy Gormley have a second question?
Mr. Gormley: Does the Tánaiste condemn the public representatives to whom I referred?
The Tánaiste: I certainly condemn anybody who defends breaking of the law. We all live in a constitutional democracy and Article 9 of the Constitution states that loyalty to the State is the fundamental duty of every citizen. Those elected to public office have a special duty to uphold the law.