asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any advice, recommendation or directive has been received arising from our membership of the EEC on the matter of the use of (1) tobacco advertising and (2) alcoholic drinks advertisements; and equality of opportunity between the sexes in employment opportunities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Communications.
11.
The answer to the first two points raised by the Deputy is in the negative.
However as regards tobacco advertising the Ministers for Health of the Nine discussed health education policies with particular reference to smoking, drug abuse in sports and nutrition when they met in Council for the first time last December. The Ministers requested the Commission to compile basic documentation on the measures taken by the member states in the field of anti-smoking campaigns and to draw up suggestions with a view to further action, where appropriate, at Community level. The Commission drew up a report based on this documentation and this was discussed at the meeting of Ministers for Health which was held on 16 November 1978. After the discussion at which the Minister for Health, Mr. Haughey, took part, the Ministers agreed to establish common methods by which to compare the results and to assess the effectiveness of health education campaigns on smoking, to carry out health education campaigns of an experimental nature in order to determine the main features of cigarette smoking and to seek a common attitude on advertising. Progress in the field will be reviewed at the meeting of Health Ministers which is expected to take place in the New Year.
Regarding the third point—the Council of Ministers adopted on 9 February 1976 a directive on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment and to vocational training and as regards working conditions. The Employment Equality Act, 1977 which became law on 1 June 1977 and came into operation on 1 July 1977 brought the terms of the directive into effect here.