Alcohol Action Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Alcohol Action Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details Coherent and consistent adherence to pubic health alcohol policy and its objectives, and the implementation Public Health Alcohol Act

Intended results Commitment to the full and urgent implementation of the full Public Health Alcohol Act Ensure that the Government would not acquiesce to the demands of the alcohol producers to reduce excise duties and value added tax on all alcohol products as part of a COVID-19 economic stimulus package Highlight to the Oireachtas COVID-19 committee the need to encourage greater availability of trauma-informed services to support COVID-19 recovery. Secure a meeting with Ministers for Health; Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, and the Minister of State for Public Health. Request to contribute and participate to the Night-Time Economy Taskforce as established by Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht Oversee the implementation of Public Health legislation in regard to alcohol - Public Health (Alcohol) Act, 2018 Highlight to Oireachtas spokespersons that any additional financial, COVID related, support to the National Sporting Bodies must come with a commitment to end alcohol sponsorship in sport. Highlight the need to urgently introduce labelling regulation (Section 12; Public Health Alcohol Act) to inform the public of the danger of alcohol consumption when pregnant Convey the findings of the Alcohol Action Ireland annual market review and price survey, which highlights the continued mass availability of exceptionally affordable alcohol throughout Ireland retail landscape.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Eunan McKinney

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Social Media (51-100)

Highlighting the continued mass availability of exceptionally affordable alcohol, the surge of alcohol sales in the Off-Trade during the COVID pandemic crisis and the likely impact to society of such dramatic shift in alcohol use.

Email (6-10)

Letter (6-10)

Introductory meeting requests to discuss implementation of the Public Health Alcohol Act; impact of parental alcohol misuse on children and the provision of trauma-informed services; Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery drug and alcohol strategy, the proposed Citizen Assembly, strategic Public Alcohol Policy and a research proposal to establish a state-sponsored Office to lead on alcohol policy.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)

Tony Holohan Chief Medical Officer (Department of Health)

Stephen Donnelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin Taoiseach (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Eamon Ryan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ossian Smyth TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Neasa Hourigan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Robert Troy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Heather Humphreys Minister (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Róisín Shorthall TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jack Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Leo Varadkar An Tánaiste (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Micheál Martin An Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Michael McGrath Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)

Michael McNamara TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm O’Reardon Secretary General (Department of Health)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Martin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Noonan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mark Wall Senator (Seanad)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Frank Feighan Minister of State (Department of Health)

Pippa Hackett Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Josepha Madigan Minister of State (Department of Education and Skills)

Norma Foley Minister (Department of Education and Skills)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice and Equality)

Joe O'Brien TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mark Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Butler Minister of State (Department of Health)

Gary Gannon TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ged Nash TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)