Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if further action has been taken by her Department to regulate the sponsorship of sporting and youth-related events by alcohol companies as per the strategic task force on alcohol since her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 16 February 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26790/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects to receive a report from the alcohol marketing communications body; the reason no report was produced in 2006 as previously stated; the number of times the body have met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26791/07]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together.

The first Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body for 2006 was submitted to the Minister for Health and Children for consideration on 19th July 2007. The Monitoring Body met on 9 occasions up to 19th July 2007. A copy of the Report is being supplied separately to the Deputy.

Following consideration of the Report my Department has decided to commence discussions with the relevant stakeholders with a view to strengthening and expanding the current voluntary codes on alcohol marketing and communications in order to provide significantly greater protection for children and young people. I will give further consideration to the possibility of using legislation in this area depending on the outcome of these discussions.

With regard to sponsorship of sporting and youth events by alcohol companies, the Programme for Government states that the Government will "Discuss the question of the sponsorship of sporting events by the alcohol industry with the aim of phasing it out". My Department intends to raise this issue with the alcohol industry representatives during the course of the broader discussions on advertising and marketing referred to above.