Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason she has decided to abandon the Alcohol Products Bill against the advice of leading health experts and contrary to the recommendations of the alcohol task force and the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Health and Children; the length of time the voluntary code will last before she will introduce legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28958/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has for some time had concerns in regard to the advertising and marketing of alcohol products, in particular with regard to young people. These concerns relate specifically to the content and placement of alcohol advertising. One of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the strategic task force on alcohol, STFA, was to reduce the exposure of young people to alcohol advertisements. In pursuance of this recommendation the heads of a Bill were drafted to restrict alcohol advertising.

In parallel with this process, representatives of the advertising, communications, drinks and media sectors were informed of the Department's concerns and of the proposal to introduce the legislation. The industry representatives acknowledged the Department's concerns and sought time to respond on an incremental basis.

Following the industry's response a code of practice has now been agreed which will significantly reduce the exposure of alcohol advertising generally but particularly to young people which was the purpose of the task force recommendation. An independently chaired monitoring body is to be established to oversee the operation of the code. Consequently, it has been decided to delay the introduction of the Bill for the moment pending the implementation and evaluation of the code.