Tobacco Bill seeks to ban cigarette vending machines

Vending machines and packets of 10 cigarettes will be banned if a Bill, for which approval has been granted, is passed by the Oireachtas.

To coincide with Ash Wednesday, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, will today announce that his office has received approval to proceed with drafting the Public Health and Tobacco Bill. Among its provisions will be the establishment of a system of registration for retailers of tobacco products. Retailers who sell tobacco products to underage customers will have their licence revoked.

It is expected that the Health Bill, 2000, currently before the Oireachtas, will raise the minimum age that people can buy tobacco products from 16 to 18.

The Public Health and Tobacco Bill will also propose the introduction of a total ban on tobacco advertising and on all sponsorship by the industry, full disclosure to the public of all aspects of tobacco, improved protection for people against passive smoking, tougher enforcement provisions and the establishment on a statutory basis of an independent Office of Tobacco Control.

This office, which already exists on an administrative basis, will be responsible for monitoring, co-ordinating and, in some circumstances, enforcing anti-tobacco legislation.

Mr Martin, who has described the "battle against tobacco" as one of the most important health challenges, will now proceed, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, with the drafting of the Bill "as a matter of priority".

He will also announce the setting up of a Tobacco Research Centre.

The Bill will give effect to the proposals in the policy document, Towards a Tobacco Free Society, published last year.