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".
The action plan on alcohol, which Ms Shortall first drafted in Jun 2012, has still not gone before the Cabinet. This is despite statements since last October from her successor, Alex White, that it would go to ministers "within weeks".
Ms Shortall said: "A minister of state is not able to bring senior ministers to the table if they are resisting. The only person who can do that is the Taoiseach.
"I would call on the Taoiseach to give political leadership to persuade ministers to play their part."
Source: Irish Examiner, 08/04/13
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