The Government's Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon, has called for the introduction of a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events.
Dr Shannon was speaking as he presented his annual report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children.
He said the prevalence of alcohol abuse was one of the most striking features of all the cases he had reviewed involving children who had died in the care of the State.
In many cases involving the deaths of children in care, he said, alcohol abuse had not been identified as a risk factor.
He said these children had been left in highly vulnerable environments because social workers had failed to act.
Dr Shannon said that historically agencies have consistently failed to work together to protect children.
Labour TD Ciara Conway directed criticism towards her Government colleagues for their stance in tackling alcohol abuse.
Speaking at the committee, she said: "Alcohol is by far the most serious social issue facing Ireland on so many fronts, be it health, be in family relationships, be it mental well-being, be it physical well-being.
"It costs the Exchequer a huge amount of money each year, in the billions, and yet we have Cabinet ministers who are finding it difficult to stand up to sporting organisations in relation to alcohol.”
Source: rte.ie, 19/11/13
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