Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 104, 105, 106, 107 - Marketing of alcohol [6144/06, 6145/06, 6146/06, 6147/06].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 104, 105, 106, 107 - Marketing of alcohol [6144/06, 6145/06, 6146/06, 6147/06]. (16 Feb 2006)

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104. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children number of times the alcohol marketing communications monitoring body has met since her announcement of a voluntary code; and the number of times she envisages it meeting in 2006. [6144/06]

105. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children Information Zoom if an annual report of the alcohol marketing communications monitoring body is sufficient for such an important matter; if there will be interim reports from the body; the action which can be taken between reports if breaches are observed; if the voluntary code is consistent with other codes such as those produced by MEAS, CCCI, The Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the ASAI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6145/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power): I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. The remit of the alcohol marketing communications monitoring body is to oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, the voluntary code of practice on alcohol advertising. I understand that it has met once since its establishment in January and will continue to meet over the course of the year. The decision to await the annual report of the monitoring body before deciding on further action was taken to allow the body a sufficient period in which to review compliance with and adherence to the code of practice. The voluntary code of practice complements existing restrictions such as those of the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and in no way impinges on the complaints procedures associated with these or other bodies. I am happy to await the outcome of the first annual report of the monitoring body and, as the Tánaiste has stated previously, legislation will be progressed if the body finds that the codes are not being adhered to.

106. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if further action will be taken by her Department to regulate the sponsorship of sporting and youth related events by alcohol companies as per the strategic task force on alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6146/06]

107. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the strategic task force on alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6147/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power): I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. The strategic task force on alcohol was established in January 2002 and was given a remit to recommend specific evidence based measures to Government to prevent and reduce alcohol related harm. It published an interim report in May 2002 and a second report in September 2004. The reports provide approximately 100 recommendations across a range of sectors including research, legislative, community training, advertising and sponsorship, awareness raising measures and so forth. Significant progress has been made across Departments in implementing the task force recommendations. I have arranged to have a summary document forwarded to the Deputy outlining details of the progress made.

As the Deputy will be aware, the executive functions of this Department have transferred to the Health Service Executive, HSE. I am confident that the HSE will continue to progress the implementation of the task force recommendations. A number of the recommendations contained in the interim report concern a reduction in the exposure of children and adolescents to alcohol advertising, marketing and sponsorship. In response to these, the Department entered into negotiations with the broadcasting, media and drinks industries while at the same time pursuing the development of legislation to restrict alcohol advertising, sponsorship and sales promotions and marketing practices. It was agreed that the industry would respond on an incremental basis. This has resulted in the establishment of Central Copy Clearance Ireland which addresses the issue of the content of advertisements, the development of a voluntary code of practice on advertising which addresses the issue of placement and the establishment of the alcohol marketing and communications monitoring body to oversee the implementation of the voluntary code. As the Tánaiste has previously indicated, she will await the annual report of the monitoring body before deciding on future actions relating to legislation on this issue. Negotiations with the industry stakeholders are ongoing and will include the issue of sponsorship.

Vol. 614 No. 6 Written Answers Thursday, 16 February 2006

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