(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the maximum amounts which companies (details supplied) were permitted to spend on the advertising of tobacco products and on sponsorship in 1980; and the amounts permitted in 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship.
The maximum amounts which tobacco companies were permitted to spend in 1980 under the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Regulations, 1979 was £5,421,000 on advertising and £1,138,500 on sponsorship. The amounts permitted in 1981 are £6,407,600 for advertising and £1,345,800 for sponsorship.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister not agree that the figure for advertising appears to have increased very substantially from £5 million to nearly £6.5 million?
The increase is in line with the consumer price index, the yardstick which has been applied in both cases.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I realised the consumer price index had jumped considerably, but I did not realise the situation was so bad.
It is over 20 per cent.
It is approximately in line——
A Fianna Fáil approximation.