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LAST UPDATE | 18 Jul 2024
TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has defended a visit to a Diageo brewery this week in Kenya following criticism from Alcohol Action Ireland yesterday.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is on a four-day tour of the Horn of Africa. Yesterday, he visited a Guinness brewery, where he was given a tour of the facility and planted a tree on the grounds alongside Irish Ambassador to Kenya Catríona Ingoldsby.
Alcohol Action Ireland condemned the Tánaiste’s visit in a post on X yesterday evening, claiming that “politicians allow themselves to be used” in the promotion of alcohol.
“More PR opportunities afforded to an industry which costs Ireland €12 bn annually. Easy to see why Diageo is thrilled with these occasions,” the post said.
“Alcohol is a drug that costs Ireland 2.5% of GDP – €12billion annually in health, social and lost workplace productivity costs every year, i.e misery, addiction and early death for many of our citizens,” Alcohol Action Ireland said in a blog post published earlier this month.
Diageo is a British multi-national alcoholic beverage company which owns the brand of Guinness, as well as Smirnoff and Bailey’s, among a wide variety of others.
The original Guinness brewery was founded in Dublin in 1759 and Guinness is widely associated with the nation across the world.
Yesterday evening, Taoiseach Simon Harris and new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated a “reset” in relations with a pint of the famous stout.
More PR opportunities afforded to an industry which costs Ireland €12 bn annually. Easy to see why @Diageo_News is thrilled with these occasions, but why do our politicians allow themselves to be used? Questions for the media to ask.@thejournal_ie https://t.co/Y3BhvgWYGe
— AlcoholActionIreland (@AlcoholIreland) July 17, 2024
Speaking in Ethiopia this morning, Martin highlighted the economic benefits of the brewery, as well as the use of Irish technology showcased in the visit yesterday.
“Just to make a very basic point that alcohol is permitted in moderation,” he told reporters. “I’m a strong believer in public health as the former minister for health, but we do need balance and perspective here.”
He detailed the use of “very effective technology introduced by an Irish company” in the Diageo brewery, which reduces dependence on fossil fuels, and has resulted in savings and a better supply chain for farmers in Kenya.
“It’s very positive from an economic perspective in terms of jobs for Kenyans in a long term, sustainable basis in terms of reduced emissions and affirming Irish technology that brought this to Africa,” he added.
“That’s the context of my visit and I don’t make any apologies.”
With reporting from Emma Hickey.
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Alcohol Action Ireland I assume piss test their staff each morning to make sure they haven’t had a drink?
Bring back the free pint after donating blood. Diageo should fund it. “A pint of the red stuff for a pint of the black stuff.”
@An Other: funnily enough the black stuff is actually red.
@Fintan Stack: It is indeed.
Alcohol Action Ireland need to take off the mask and call for the banning of alcohol as this would appear to be their desire. If not, what is it that they want? We have had a falling alcohol consumption rate for 20 years now. Perhaps AAI could outline what consumption rate would satisfy them, at which point they can give up their publicly funded jobs. Or they could be honest and admit that they want the abolition of alcohol. Nothing else actually makes sense.
@Soundy Sound:While I fully accept that Ireland, in general, has a problematic relationship with alcohol, and NGOs have a role to play in education, these zealots are only interested in restriction of supply and increasing pricing, neither of which do anything to fostering a more mature relationship with alcohol.
So AAI, what is the per capita consumption rate that you will accept? And will you then fcük off and stop deamonising the thousands of people who work in this legitimate industry, paying their taxes and extremely high duty rates.
For what it’s worth, we do have a very strange tolerance for extreme drunkeness in this country – that needs to change, imo.
As long as alcohol is not prohibited than he has all the right to visit. It’s an Irish company.
@hans vos: I agree in his right to visit but Diagio is a British owned multinational. Guinness isn’t Irish owned.
@hans vos: Diageo is British owned.
@Soundy Sound: it’s actually a bit disgraceful that Ireland would sell Guinness and Baileys to a British company.
@Deano74: I stand corrected.
I’d say their Christmas party is a hoot.
Alcohol is very bad for people and should be banned
@Auld Lad: I hope not…I’m going out for a thirsty Thursday
@Auld Lad: They’d love you in Saudi!
@Auld Lad: the half of Mediterranean food would be tasteless without wine
@Auld Lad: Start a petition to get it banned. I don’t drink but don’t sign either.
@Auld Lad: Prohibition worked out well for the States didn’t it. Oh wait it made millionaires out of the mafia
@Auld Lad: I’d say your great craic at a party.
@Auld Lad:
Alcohol is bad for wimps who are not man enough to control it.
@Auld Lad: 100% of people who drink water die..there u go,just have a pint and relax.
Guinness is good for you
Any relation to pat ingoldsby?
Ireland’s economy is as black as its Guinness.. IMF 2006, coming to a Banana republic near you soon…
This Govt was brought to you by Diageo. Fantastic PR images for Diageo, one lad downing pints at Chequers & the other lad promoting it in Africa, wonderful look for Ireland.
@SV3tN8M4: Get off your Shetland pony.
@John Mc Dermott:
We dragged the Queen and American presidents in to the Guinness brewery to stick a pint in their hand.
No apologies, what else would you expect from this arrogant muppet. He’s only good a personal attacks
Alcohol costs Ireland 2.5% gdp apparently alcohol contributes way more than that to gdp so dull point
This country would do well in the victum olimpics
Seems to be a NJO for everything.
Diago can brew guinness anywhere they have been loyal to ireland and have paid billions in taxes this politically correct country thinks its immune to international business but we practically manufacture nothing here we hardly grow any veg potatoes etc we basically have gas or oil of our own depending on a few wind farms we import briquettes oil gas thanks to incompetent idiots walking around in their louis copland suits elected by us having made a mess we reward them with massive payoffs and life long pensions this boom can’t last and now our meps vote openly against von der Lyonshall who do we think we are these people have long memories
have your say