Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Department of Health

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his views on correspondence (details supplied) concerning small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8303/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am confident that the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 will have a positive impact on health and is a proportionate measure. As the Deputy may be aware, the tobacco industry has argued that standardised packs would be easier to forge and would lead to growth in illicit trade of tobacco products. However, the Revenue Commissioners have advised me that they are satisfied that the standardised packaging legislation will not have a significant impact on their work in relation to illicit trade in tobacco products. Revenue relies on the tax stamp as a key means for them to distinguish between legal and illegal products, irrespective of the way in which the cigarettes are packaged. Tax stamps will remain a fixture on tobacco products following the introduction of standardised packaging, and contain all features possible to minimise the risk of counterfeiting. Combatting the illegal tobacco trade is, and will continue to be, a high priority for the Revenue Commissioners. They have extensive cooperation with An Garda Síochána in combatting the illicit trade, and in addition, cooperation takes place with other revenue administrations and with the European Anti-Fraud office, OLAF, in the ongoing programmes at international level to tackle the illicit trade. It is anticipated that there will not be a significant impact on illicit trade of tobacco as a result of the introduction of standardised packaging.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill aims to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland to 9.1 litres per person per annum by 2020, and to reduce the harms associated with alcohol. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill provides for restrictions on the display and advertisement of alcohol products in mixed trade retail outlets. Under the Bill, mixed trade retailers can only display and advertise alcohol products in a separate area of the shop or closed storage units. Alcohol may also be sold behind the counter in a closed storage unit.

The general availability of alcohol is an important indicator when assessing alcohol related harm. Alcohol is not an ordinary consumer product and this is recognised by the State through a licensing system and a specific excise tax. However, when it comes to mixed trade retailers, e.g supermarkets and convenience stores, alcohol is frequently displayed like a regular grocery item. The regulation of the way it is displayed for sale, is an important mechanism to highlight the harm it can cause and protect children from overexposure.

Many of the provisions on structural separation are based on existing provisions in the Responsible Retailers of Alcohol Ireland Code. These provisions will replace Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008 (which was never commenced). The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill provides more flexibility and choice to retailers in complying with structural separation than Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008.

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