Taoiseach ‘must give leadership in fight against alcohol abuse’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny needs to “give leadership” in tackling alcohol abuse and persuade ministers resisting change “to play their part”, former drugs minister Roisín Shortall has said.

The Labour TD said she was concerned that the long-promised action plan on alcohol was “dragging on for so long” and feared that it was being constantly put back in the hope the issue would “go away”.

The former minister of state at the Department of Health with responsibility for the alcohol strategy claimed there was a tendency within Cabinet “not to confront difficulties”.