Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 173:

"In page 82, to delete line 12, and substitute “children, having particular regard to the general public health interests of children.”."

The marketing of nutritionally poor food has an effect on children’s consumption preferences. It has an effect on their purchase requests and on what they ask their parents and guardians to buy. It has an effect on what they choose to consume. It has an effect on their health.

We need the regulation of marketing practices that incentivise the consumption of nutritionally poor food. We need such regulation because of the high rates of child obesity and related non-communicable diseases throughout the European Union and at home in Ireland.

The imposition of online restrictions on the marketing of high fat, salt or sugar, HFSS, foods and drinks to protect children from harm is even more warranted, because the marketing strategies that are used to promote such foods are increasingly integrated, are increasingly immersive and are increasingly personalised. Therefore, they are more likely to cause harm. I hope the Minister will engage constructively and positively with amendment No. 173. I will come back in to speak on amendment No. 175.