Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, there are two separate risks with this proposal and, indeed, the other proposal if we are to do them in this Bill. The first, which we definitely know, is that this Bill will be delayed because we are legally obliged to go through the EU directive. It is also possible that the Commission would come back and say "No" on some of them. We had to go through a very significant process, for example, with the alcohol labelling Act and various alcohol controls we introduced in the time of this Government. Both of those are in place. Therefore, yes, the same argument applies that it would delay the Bill.

I will make an additional point. Unlike the other debates we have had where there are no restrictions in place at the moment in terms of flavouring and packaging, and we need to come down like a tonne of bricks on all of those, there are already very comprehensive restrictions in place on advertising. It cannot be advertised online, on television, on radio and in printed publications. Contributions cannot be made to an event or person who might be promoting at an event for sponsorship essentially. They are already in place. I think we can go further, however. We are cognisant of the committee's good work, as I said earlier, and very grateful for it. One of the most important areas is point of sale advertising.