John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman. This amendment is dealing with a very specific and technical issue. There are technologies analogous to those employed in the reading of barcodes which, using near-field communications, make it possible for central vendors to establish a degree of contact, as a marketing device, with people who have purchased cigarettes from them. This amendment seeks to prohibit the use of this or any newly developed technologies for such purposes. We can be certain that new technologies will be developed and it makes sense to account for that now rather than having to amend the Bill at a future date. The amendment is wholly in keeping with the spirit of the Minister's legislation and the European regulation.