Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the report from the Office of Tobacco Control that 48% of national retailers were willing to sell cigarettes to underage youths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12467/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to combat the report from the Office of Tobacco Control which reported that 64% of youths were not prevented from buying cigarettes from vending machines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12469/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 197 together.

This report shows that the ease of access to tobacco products by persons under 18 years of age must be addressed. The Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 contain a number of key provisions, including a prohibition on all display and advertising of tobacco products in retail outlets and regulations for the sale of tobacco products from vending machines. I intend to announce a date for their commencement shortly. The aim of these provisions is to further de-normalise tobacco and to protect children from the dangers of tobacco consumption.