Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will only take 60 seconds.

There is no doubt the drinks industry is unscrupulous. Its behaviour can, at times, be concerning and unscrupulous in many different ways. I have spoken about it in the House. I have made charges in this House about the industry's competitive practices and the manner in which it behaves. I am well aware of how the industry uses and targets advertising.

However, the Labour Party will be opposing this amendment. The simple fact is the amendment uses a mallet to break a nut. The consequences of this on various sporting organisations across the country would be seismic. Anyone who has an appreciation for small clubs across all codes, not just the GAA, would know there are many mixed businesses, whether serving food and drink, or whatever, that contribute to their community. It is not necessarily for the sake of the advertising that they get because some of the clubs that get advertising from bars or restaurants would not be the most successful clubs. The sponsors are contributing to their community and helping the clubs to continue to do something very healthy in promoting sport and providing facilities. That would end under this proposal. That would not be good for all of these clubs. I am adamant that, when it comes to small sponsorship of sporting events and clubs in rural or urban communities across Ireland, to lose the capacity to do that would be a negative thing. It would also be a negative thing from a health perspective. In many of these locations there are very few outlets to go to for advertising income.

On the basis of that alone, the Labour Party will be opposing this amendment, even though I know the nature of some of the large-scale drinks companies and have promoted small producers of beverages and had legislation passed dealing with that issue.

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