Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign and recent results of a survey published by a group (details supplied) seeking amongst other things a ban on alcohol advertising prior to the watershed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57853/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the evidence from this survey that there is strong public support for measures to reduce the advertising of alcohol products, especially alcohol advertising seen by our children.

Section 19 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 provides for a broadcast watershed for alcohol advertisements on television and radio. It has not yet been commenced as it requires further engagement on compliance and enforcement issues with the Environmental Health Service of the HSE and the Broadcast Authority of Ireland .

Work on commencement of section 19 and other sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was suspended throughout 2020 and much of 2021 due to resources being diverted to COVID-19 related areas of work. That work has now restarted.