Fianna Fáil senator Terry Leyden has called on the Minister for Finance to explain why he "cannot bring in legislation to ban below cost selling of alcohol."
In an address to the Seanad, Leyden said that, "Sunday newspapers are practically exclusively carrying advertisements for Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Aldi and Lidl. Last Sunday, they were advertising 25% off three litres of alcohol - gin, vodka and whiskey. People were urged to buy it fast in the store or get it delivered."
Adding that publicans are being "victimized" because of the low cost of alcohol, he called for a "level playing pitch", saying that the "responsibility for this lies with the four people running the country - the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. They are the leaders of the country. There is no Cabinet responsibility anymore because it is not consulted. The remaining Ministers are cabbages."
Also last week, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny noted that the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which will address minimum pricing of alcohol products, will be published "early next year."
