Employers’ group Ibec, drinks group Diageo, Dublin Airport Authority and three public relations firms lobbied more than 50 TDs including seven Government Ministers about the controversial alcohol Bill currently before the Dáil. The register also shows public health organisations including Alcohol Action Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society lobbied 15 TDs including Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe about the legislation that targets problem drinking in Ireland. It is the first Bill in the State’s history to deal with alcohol as a public health issue. All previous alcohol-related legislation has been linked to licensing, road traffic and legal issues and dealt with as a Department of Justice matter. A number of smaller drinks manufacturers including Cooley Distilleries and Slane Castle Irish Whiskey Ltd also lobbied TDs and ministers in their area over their concerns about the impact of the legislation on their firms.

Source: The Irish Times September 30, 2018 16:18 UTC