1687 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the report launched by a group (details supplied) in relation to the advertising of alcohol online and the potential impact on children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18392/26]

1688 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of a report launched by a group (details supplied) in relation to the advertising of alcohol online and the potential impact on children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18394/26]

1706 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of banning the advertising of alcohol products during sporting events that are broadcast on Irish television networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18476/26]

1707 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of banning the advertising of alcohol products during sporting events that are broadcast on Irish radio networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18477/26]

1708 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of banning the advertising of alcohol products at sporting events, both in and around the venues and grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18478/26]

1709 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied) or any other similar organisation into the merits of banning the advertisement of alcohol during and around sporting events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18479/26]

1710 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied) or any other similar organisation into the merits of banning alcohol sponsorship of sports teams and individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18480/26]

1711 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research carried out by her Department into the impact that alcohol advertising during sporting events has on fans under the age of 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18481/26]

1712 Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research carried out by her Department into the impact that alcohol sponsorship of sports teams or individuals has on fans under the age of 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18482/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1687, 1688, 1706, 1707, 1708, 1709, 1710, 1711 and 1712 together.

I am aware of the report from Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) on Digital and social media marketing of alcohol. My Department continuously monitors and evaluates evidence in relation to the public health aspects of alcohol consumption as it becomes available.

I met with AAI last September in relation to a number of issues in relation to alcohol and public health. In addition, on foot of this most recent report on Digital and social media marketing of alcohol, my Department updated AAI on the implementation of the recommendations set out in the recent Final Report of the Online Health Taskforce. The Report of the Online Health Taskforce includes a report from the Institute of Public Health on children’s exposure to health harming products online and options to enhance protections in Ireland.

Alcohol advertising and sponsorship were considered at length in the lead up to the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The issue was examined by the then Joint Committee for Transport and Communications with stakeholders from sporting organisations as well as the alcohol industry, the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland and Alcohol Action Ireland.

The Committee concluded that banning sponsorship of sports by the alcohol industry was not merited at this time and made a number of recommendations including that a prohibition on sponsorship by the alcohol industry should only be considered if it were done on a pan-European basis in order to ensure that Irish sports and sporting organisations are not operating at a disadvantage relative to their international competitors.

In addition, following a Government Decision, a Working Group on Regulating Sponsorship by Alcohol Companies of Major Sporting Events was established. The Group had representation from a number of Government Departments and was chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach. As part of its work, the Group conducted a consultation, inviting evidence-based responses to questions on the impacts of alcohol sponsorship on consumption, to which AAI submitted a contribution.

The Group's final report set out that it had not been able to reach clear evidence-based conclusions on the actual costs and benefits of further regulation of sponsorship by alcohol companies of major sporting events. The Group therefore concluded that the most useful approach would be to identify a range of options which could be taken and seek to elaborate the likely advantages and disadvantages of each approach, to inform consideration by Government.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 contains a number of provisions in operation which restrict alcohol advertising and sponsorship in order to protect children and young people from daily exposure to such marketing:

• Section 14 prohibits alcohol advertising in or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations and within 200 m of a school, an early years centre or a local authority playground.
• Section 15 of the Act prohibits alcohol advertising on a sports area during a sporting event, at events aimed at children or at events in which the majority of participants or competitors are children.
• Section 16 prohibits the alcohol sponsorship of events aimed at children, events which the majority of participants or competitors are children and events involving driving or racing motor vehicles is prohibited.
• Section 17 prohibits children’s clothing that promotes alcohol.
• Section 19 provides that there can be no advertisement for an alcohol product on a television programme service from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on a sound broadcasting service on a weekday from 3pm to 10am the following morning.
• Section 20 prohibits alcohol advertising in a cinema except around films with an 18 classification or in a licensed premises in a cinema.
• Finally, under section 22, in mixed retail outlets, alcohol advertising is confined to one of the following:
• an area separated by a 1.2m high barrier, or
• units in which alcohol products are not visible up to 1.5m height, or
• up to three units that can be a maximum of 1m wide by 2.2m high.