Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was interesting to note that not once in his deliberation on the effects of alcohol did the Minister mention the cancerous effects. It was announced a few times today that it is the sixth most significant cause of alcohol related death. I raise the issue of the exemption of visitor centres. While I appreciate the Minister's response, further clarification is needed. The Minister said last week that directional signs for visitor centres were exempt from the provision of the Bill. I am concerned this may not be the case. Section 14 states clearly that a person shall not advertise alcohol products within 200 m of the perimeter of the grounds of schools, early years services or playgrounds. The only exemption in the Bill is for signage attached to premises. This means free-standing directional or waymarking signage containing the name of a brewery, distillery or alcohol brand would be banned from display within 200 m of a school or early years facility.

I give the Minister an example from my own backyard. In east Cork, we have the Jameson experience in Midleton, which is a very popular Irish whiskey museum and visitor centre. The facility has been operating as a visitor centre for many years and welcomes more than 100,000 guests per year, including 100,000 visitors in 2017. Under the Bill, the Jameson experience in Midleton will not be allowed to advertise unless the fonts are changed. It is the Jameson experience, Midleton. That is the only name one hears when one hears of whiskey in east Cork. It is the big one. Does this mean this signage will not be allowed in the vicinity of some of the schools in Midleton? Irish Distillers is based in Midleton and on the approaches to it from every direction, one passes many schools. The problem arises when the visitor centre includes the name of the brand. That is why I am coming in here. The name of the brand is the name of the visitor centre. The majority of visitors arrive by bus or car and they avail of directional signs.

I note the position in this big city of ours. In Dublin 8 alone, there will be chaos and confusion as tourists struggle to find the visitor centres they wish to visit, including the Guinness Storehouse, Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery or the Dublin Liberties Distillery. Many of those premises carry the name of the brand or alcoholic drinks being sold. How does the Minister propose to provide for directional signs for those centres? Some distilleries market their brands under a different company name, but I have a problem where distilleries and breweries have signage including the brand name. How do we get around that issue? Will they have effective directional signs? That is what I want clarification on.

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