Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Section 43 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 provides that a person registered with the Office of Tobacco Control under section 37 must display a prescribed sign at the premises where tobacco products are sold. The sign, which informs the public that tobacco products are on sale to persons aged 18 years and over, is prescribed in the Public Health (Tobacco Retail Sign) Regulations 2009. No other sign, notice or display is permitted at the premises indicating that tobacco products are for sale, and attention cannot be drawn to the sign by means of light, sound or any other means.

I understand that some retail outlets are displaying a sign indicating that ID may be required. This sign does not specifically refer to tobacco products being available to purchase. There is a wide range of age-restricted products to be found in retail outlets that also sell tobacco, so there can be no legitimate objection to a sign drawing attention to the fact that age-ID may be required, as long as tobacco is not specifically referenced.

Also, retailers have made the point that it is helpful for their staff to have a sign to point to when dealing with a troublesome customer. There is an obvious need to find a solution to this problem. A sign not specifically referenced to tobacco is an acceptable solution. A sign using the recognised colours of cigarettes, such as gold, blue or purple, is not acceptable. The proposed amendment is therefore not required and I regret I am unable to accept it.