Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister seems to have indicated that on the section dealing with media codes she will consider naming breast milk substitutes, formula milk and follow-on milk which would be good. If fat, trans fats, salt and sugars are named, it would be consistent. Formula milk and breast milk substitutes clearly meet the criterion of things that have a general public health interest for children. While references have been made to the Department of Health in terms of advertising and so forth, this is the legislation in respect of online marketing and promotion, and the regulation of these spaces and actors. The Bill already rightly makes reference to general public health interests. If we are referencing general public health interests without specifying the marketing of breast milk substitutes, one of the key items is being excluded.

The EU directives on the labelling of the composition of breast milk substitutes is not relevant to this which relates to the provisions that may be made for prohibitions. Alcohol should also be named either here in terms of a potential prohibition or in terms of something which has relevance to the general public health of children and should either be prohibited or restricted. As the Minister outlined, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act is designed for events but it is not an event world when dealing with online broadcasting and communications.

Watersheds work for radio and television as we have them now but not for an on-demand media space. In this new space we need to be tackling either prohibition or regulation of how alcohol advertisements are targeted. What kinds of measures are being used in terms of how they reach people? I know that other amendments address this later and Senator Black has spoken eloquently about it.

I appreciate the Minister has indicated potential engagement in respect of the media codes. However, I believe we should have a straight prohibition on advertising as the World Health Organization has called for. I will press amendment No. 103. Regardless of the outcome of that vote, I would be happy to continue to work on the media codes recommendations.