Drink adverts decision 'corrupt'

The Government's decision not to introduce legislation to control alcohol advertising was "shameful" and "deeply corrupt", it was claimed in the Dáil.

In a heated exchange over the decision to introduce a voluntary code rather than legislation to control advertising and sponsorship of alcohol, Green Party TD John Gormley (Dublin South East) accused the Government of "kowtowing" to the drinks industry".

He demanded a register of lobbyists and asked "who calls the shots? Who has the power? Is it the elected representatives or the powerful lobbyists on behalf of vested interests?"

Minister of State Seán Power angrily rejected his claims and accused Mr Gormley of abusing his Dáil privilege and talking "nonsense".

Standing in for Minister for Health Mary Harney, Mr Power said "nothing could be further from the truth" to claim the Government had kowtowed to the drinks industry. He said "it will become quite obvious to us all" if the code was not working, and then the Government would introduce legislation.

During an adjournment debate on the issue, the Green Party TD said it was "nauseating" to watch Ministers "make sanctimonious statements about drugs like hashish, cocaine and getting cheap publicity for doing so while at the same time ignoring the main problem - ignoring their own report, ignoring the alcohol strategy task force recommendations".

These recommendations were to be ignored at the behest of the drinks industry, he said. The Alcohol Products Bill had "mysteriously disappeared" from the list of promised legislation and Government leaders were not "the slightest bit concerned that a major legislative plank in dealing with alcohol abuse in this country had been abandoned".

Its response was "shameful and in my view, deeply corrupt. They have bowed to an industry which produces the most harmful drug, albeit a legal one, in Irish society."

He added it "costs the State millions and millions" every year in trying to deal with problems caused by alcohol but "the Government has decided to play ball with the producers of this drug".

There was "no doubt Fianna Fáil and the PDs will benefit handsomely from the drinks industry for the way in which they have kowtowed to those vested interests."

But rejecting the accusations and accusing the Green TD of abusing his position, Mr Power said the drinks industry was part of the problem and would be part of the answer.

He pointed out that introducing a complete ban on advertising at this stage "is totally impossible. We have no control over satellite television, there is no consensus in Europe and no agreement like there was on tobacco advertising".

Under the voluntary code of conduct, no advertising would be used in any programming where more than 33 per cent of the audience was under 18. No advertising would be placed in programming specifically aimed at children, and outdoor advertising would not be placed within 100 metres of schools.

Mr Power said an independent body to monitor the code was being established.