Ms Orla Twomey:

When we reviewed our code, which was launched in 2015, we considered introducing rules. We were coming to the end of a two-year process and needed to finalise the code. We introduced rules that would reduce the impact of advertising on pre-primary and primary school children. Advertisements that are targeted through the content - that is, those which are targeted at pre-primary and primary school children through the use of colours, music or engagement - cannot involve a promotional element and cannot use licensed characters. We said at the time that we would revisit the introduction of rules that would specifically reference products that are high in fat, salt and sugar. Shortly after we launched the code, however, the Department of Health announced its process to look at non-broadcast codes. We became part of that process and worked with the working group. Those rules have been launched. We are aware that the Department of Health is currently preparing a tender document on the compliance and monitoring of those rules. We are keeping a watching brief. We will need to examine how our rules align to those rules and do not need to wait for another full code review to do so. We can amend rules once we are certain how it is progressing but we do not want to have a conflict between the two codes. We are aware that we will need to look at them again.