Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Páraic Duffy, Mr. Philip Browne and Mr. John Delaney. As someone who has come through a career in sports for the past 50 years at this stage, and that is not saying how old I am, I do not believe that alcohol sponsorship had an effect on my career as a sports person. As a coach and a mentor for many young boys and girls during the past number of years, I see the very positive effect sports have on the development of these young men and women.

Alcohol misuse has not come into the equation with them. I agree 100% with the presentations. I do not believe that banning sponsorship by alcohol companies would have any effect on reducing the misuse of alcohol in Ireland. I commend the GAA, the IRFU, the FAI and all the national governing bodies all around the country and their volunteers who instil incredible confidence in and educate the young people in Ireland. It has already been pointed out that the ban imposed in France in 1991 resulted in a small change at the beginning but the level of alcohol misuse is at or may have exceeded the level that pertained prior to that time. I believe this is a societal issue not just in Ireland but around the world. I also believe it is a cultural issue around sports where alcohol is a friendly means of socialising with one another as opposed to using sports as a way of promoting the misuse of alcohol. It is an educational issue. First and foremost, it is an educational issue at home; it is what the children see going on at home. If parents are heavy drinkers the likelihood is that their children will get involved in alcohol and that they will put peer pressure on their friends whose families may not be involved with alcohol.

A former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, imposed a ban on smoking in bars and public places. While there are now graphic images on cigarettes packs I do not believe they have had much effect in reducing smoking in Ireland. Therefore, I do not believe that banning the advertising of alcoholic products will have much effect.

In my sport of athletics, for 50 years Nestlé Corporation through the medium of Kit Kat sponsored the Irish schools athletics events. Unfortunately, they were told they could no longer promote Kit Kat products in schools in Ireland because of the obesity levels and the use of chocolate. What happened there? There was a huge void in schools athletics because no company was willing to sponsor the schools athletics programme. It was crazy. Has that reduced the consumption of chocolate among young children in Ireland? Not a chance. If we want to ban the use of chocolate by children it should not be placed at the shop counter beside the till. However, there is somewhat of a paradox here that sports organisations, while they promote healthy lifestyles, also take on board sponsorship from other organisations. I was at the match last night. Most of the witnesses, perhaps, saw the match on television or were there last night. Does anybody know how many advertisements appeared in the Aviva Stadium on the billboards?