Junior health minister to discuss drink sale plan

The Fine Gael minister planning to segregate the sale of alcohol in stores says she is open to discussing “any evidence” that the measure would cause shops financial hardship.

Department of Health junior minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said she is willing to hold further talks with her party’s coalition partner, the Independent Alliance, after it warned that the legislation could damage small firms.

Under a new alcohol bill currently before the Seanad and at amendment stage, the Government plans to introduce new rules in the coming months to force stores to separate alcohol from other products, by means of a physical barrier.