Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I move amendment No. 9:

In page 13, line 31, after “form” to insert “, in both the English and Irish language,”.

The proposal is that the warnings on the labelling and on premises in the various places envisaged by the Bill would be in English and Irish. There are various reasons for this, one being cultural in terms of recognition of the Irish language. In the course of my research on this issue, I reviewed court rulings. In 2008, a teacher brought the Government to court, insisting that health warnings on cigarette packets be in English and Irish. The court ruled against the then Minister for Health and the State and, as we all know, cigarette packets now carry warnings in English and Irish. I support this Bill. As we know, there will be challenges to it. For cultural reasons and to recognise the position of the Irish language in the State, taking cognisance of precedents in the courts and to close down potential challenges on labelling, advertising and warnings in licensed premises, I hope this will be accepted.