Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Health if he has discussed with the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs and Communications, Climate Action and the Environment the issue of establishing a monitoring body to monitor the voluntary codes of practice on the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages aimed at children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25558/18]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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In February, I launched new voluntary Codes of Practice for the advertising and marketing of food and non-alcoholic drinks in the non-broadcast media - including digital media - in accordance with a recommendation in the national Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP). The OPAP was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland agenda.

The purpose of the Codes, which have been agreed with the food industry, is to ensure that foods high in fat, salt and sugar are marketed in a responsible way. In particular the Codes seek to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate marketing, advertising or sponsorship associated with these kinds of food and drink products, and that healthier food choices are actively promoted.

In effect, the purpose of the Codes is to reduce the exposure of children to unhealthy foods.

Both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, under the auspices of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, were represented on the multi-stakeholder group established by the then Minister for Health to develop the Codes of Practice; and it was in this context that my Department would have worked with both representatives of these Departments, including section 10 of the Codes that refers to the designation of a monitoring body.