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Alcohol Bill enactment could be delayed until next year

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has conceded that the controversial legislation to reduce national alcohol intake may not now be enacted until next year.

Mr Varadkar described the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill as “very close to my heart”.

Last week at the Fine Gael national conference he said he was determined to have the legislation passed by Christmas.

But in the Dáil he acknowledged that this may not now happen and it could be early next year before the Bill to deal with Ireland’s alcohol crisis will be in place.

The Taoiseach was responding to Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall who raised concerns that “there will be yet another long delay in the Seanad when consultation is taking place”.