The North's Health Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brún, has said tobacco advertising must be banned without delay. She pledged to ensure the North was included in legislation currently being prepared at Westminster.
Smoking is linked to 3,000 deaths every year in the North. "I am determined that the advertisement and promotion of tobacco products should be banned without unnecessary delay," she said.
The British government has agreed to take a Private Members Bill, controlling the advertising of tobacco products through Parliament. The legislation aims to restrict displays of tobacco products in shops and tobacco companies sponsorship of sporting events.
"I welcome this development and, having carefully considered the matter, have concluded that our best interests are served by inclusion in the bill," she said.
"My officials will carefully monitor the bill's progress through the House of Commons and will also monitor recent legislative changes in the South." Ms de Brún said smoking was the biggest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the North.
Her commitment was welcomed by party colleague, Mr John Kelly. "Smoking is one of the biggest public health problems facing us today. The cost, in terms of people's health and well-being, cannot be under-estimated and the drain on the limited resources of a cash-strapped health service is immense." The SDLP deputy chairman of the Health Committee, Mr Tommy Gallagher, said he believed the move would represent a major step towards steering teenagers away from smoking.