Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The ASAI has a very difficult job. If part of its code is to determine whether an ad is responsible, that is a very subjective thing. On what Ms Twomey mentioned regarding something that is damaging to children, I contend that making Ireland unliveable is damaging to children. If we come at it using a very much precautionary approach, any ad that promotes something that is environmentally or climate damaging is going against the ASAI code. It is a very difficult position for the ASAI to be in to have to adjudicate on that. I agree that is potentially where the benefit of a ban is because that makes it very clear-cut.

At present, I do not see what the penalties are for any large companies if they can continue to advertise, and have a particular ad in the general public arena, while this lengthy adjudication process happens. I just do not know what the disadvantage is for a company on that basis. I imagine that companies would make that assessment in some instances. They put something out that they know is potentially just on the edge of what is deemed acceptable in the hope that their ad can continue for a certain length of time and they can get the revenue and financial benefit from it.

Some €1.2 billion was mentioned as what is spent on advertising in Ireland. Is there a breakdown of what proportion of that is fossil fuel advertising? The ASAI might do this, but is there a breakdown anywhere of how much is fossil fuel advertising as against ordinary ads? What percentage of complaints coming to the ASAI relate to greenwashing? Has it seen an increase in that?