Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Earlier in the year I raised the issue of some unscrupulous people erecting posters claiming they could cure cancer for a sum of money. Some local authorities prosecuted them under the Litter Pollution Act. However, far greater penalties should be imposed on such people. It has recently come to my notice that newspapers have carried advertisements since June claiming to cure cancer and various other ailments. Surely the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland should take action over these newspaper advertisements. I am more interested in having laws to prevent such people from profiting from the misery and suffering of others. The relevant Minister, possibly the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, should examine this matter. If laws are not already in place they should be introduced to deal with such unscrupulous people. Nothing is worse than people profiting from the misery of others. I ask the Leader to act on this matter.