Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the groups and bodies that have been invited to make submissions in relation to the review of the voluntary code to limit the exposure of young people to alcoholic drink advertising being undertaken by her Department; the groups and bodies that have been consulted with to date or it is intended to consult with, in particular youth organisations, public health bodies and agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1030/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the review of the voluntary code to limit the exposure of young people to alcoholic drink advertising being undertaken by her Department, she will report on the persons who are conducting the review; the time-frame for completion of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1031/08]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to introduce a full prohibition on the advertising of alcohol and in particular a prohibition of alcohol advertising on television; the meetings she has had with industry groups and other relevant stake-holders in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1059/08]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 292, 293 and 296 together.

A Voluntary Code on the marketing and advertising of alcohol is in place since 2005. The 2006 Annual Report of the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body, established to monitor compliance with the Voluntary Codes, was submitted to my Department in July 2007. Following consideration of the Report, officials from my Department commenced discussions with representatives of the Irish alcohol industry and representatives of the Irish advertising industry with a view to strengthening and expanding the voluntary codes on alcohol marketing and communications in order to provide significantly greater protection for children and young people. A representative from the Health Service Executive also participated in the discussions. My Department did not invite submissions from any organisation during this process.

Following publication of the Report entitled Working Together to Reduce the Harms Caused by Alcohol Misuse an Implementation Group was established to monitor and report on progress on the implementation of the recommendations contained in this Report. The Implementation Group's membership comprises key stakeholders in Government Departments and Agencies and the Social Partners. Both the voluntary youth sector and the drinks industry are represented on the Implementation Group. At its meeting in September 2007 the Implementation Group discussed alcohol advertising and the views of the various stakeholders in attendance were relayed to the Department.

The discussions between my officials and the alcohol and advertising industry representatives resulted in a revised set of Codes on advertising and sponsorship being drafted. I am consulting with my officials in relation to the revised set of Codes to identify the most appropriate way of moving forward in this area. I am conscious of the need for Government to continue to respond to the problems caused by alcohol misuse in Ireland and I intend seeking support for the introduction of evidence-based measures to tackle these problems in our society.