In 2021, a national survey was carried out among 7,901 students and 3,516 staff to monitor the experiences of students and staff in relation to sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland and their awareness and confidence in HEI policies, processes, and initiatives in the area.^1,2

In Ireland, the Joint Committee on Health scrutinises the work of the Department of Health and its agencies. It is responsible for examining health policy, the future planning of health services, and proposed changes to the way in which healthcare is delivered.¹ Membership includes representation from the Dáil and the Seanad.²

On 19 January 2022, the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, came before the committee to provide an update on the national drugs strategy. He was supported by Dr Eamon Keenan, the national clinical lead for the Health Services Executive’s (HSE) addiction services, and Jim Walsh, principal officer at the Drugs Policy and Social Inclusion Unit at the Department of Health.

Evidence of the harms caused by alcohol consumption globally, including the three million annual deaths worldwide,¹ has encouraged national governments to commit to strategies to reduce alcohol-related harms. These include those set out in the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol² and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as well as through the development of the WHO Global alcohol action plan.³ It is well-recognised that policies to control the harms associated with alcohol consumption need to be instituted at national level to be effective; however, national governments face resistance and opposition from the alcohol industry when attempting to implement such policies. Common arguments by the alcohol industry when lobbying against such policies are that they are not required and are expensive to implement. Instead, it proposes alternatives, including information campaigns and a focus on subpopulations only, such as those pregnant, young people, or drink drivers. In its efforts to influence decision-making, the alcohol industry often questions the legality and effectiveness of proposed interventions and the extent of alcohol-related harms, citing the benefits of moderate consumption.