YOU might well ask what driving to Dublin has to do with the DUP and minimum alcohol pricing.

Well, it was a long time ago but when you get out of your warm bed 10 or 12 times at six in the morning, to drive 300 miles, some memories stick in the head.

Even then, I was long enough in the tooth to know that previous Irish governments had set up committees to address the country’s age-old drinking problem and the growing new problem of drugs.

Those reports had never reached the cabinet and had gathered dust. I had been reassured that this report would be different.

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It wasn’t difficult to identify the alcohol industry around the table. In various guises they were present.

For those who are not familiar with that world, there are a few large international companies who own most of the well-known drinks brands, including the Irish ones.

They argued the bit out on a lot of stuff that they thought might interfere with........

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