A draft report by the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications has recommended that the ban on sponsorship of sporting events by the drinks industry is not merited.

The unpublished report seen by RTÉ's The Week in Politics said the main sporting organisations in Ireland would suffer inordinately if legislation for a prohibition was introduced.

The sponsorship of sporting organisations by drinks companies has been in the spotlight following a consideration by the committee.

It has been examining recommendations by the national Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group to phase out drinks industry sponsorship by 2016.....