asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the established deleterious effects of cigarette smoking, he will consider banning cigarette advertising on Telefís Éireann.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cigarette Advertisements on Telefís Éireann.
43.
The answer is no. I understand that cigarette advertising on Telefís Éireann conforms to the code of standards which governs cigarette advertising in all media and which has the approval of the Minister for Health.
Does the Minister not agree that it is very stupid to have cigarette advertising on television while a colleague in the Department of Health is making every effort to inform the public of the dangers of cigarette smoking? Furthermore, will the Minister state why I received a letter from him stating that he would disallow a question regarding the same matter while he should allow this question bearing on the same subject? One question was disallowed and the other question was allowed.
The Minister does not disallow questions.
I do not disallow questions and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs does not disallow questions addressed to him. That is a matter for the Chair. I would consider it very stupid not to have advertisements on Telefís Éireann while the same advertisements would appear on the newspapers and other media. The cigarette advertisements now appearing on Telefís Éireann, as I have told the Deputy, conform to a code of standards drawn up with the approval of the Minister for Health.
Does the Minister not agree that while the Minister has no control over all the newspapers he has some control over Telefís Éireann and there is power to ban cigarette advertising on Telefís Éireann?
The Deputy should read the Act under which the Authority was established. The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has power over the length of time for which advertisements can appear on Telefís Éireann and the distribution of that time throughout the programmes.
What about the workers in the cigarette factories?
About 400 in the whole country.