Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:69 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he is taking as chairman of the EU Health Ministers to limit advertising by cigarette manufacturers. [20488/96]
Written Answers. - Tobacco Advertising.
Limerick East): A draft directive to ban tobacco advertising within the European Union is before the Health Council at present. It is supported by a majority of member states, including Ireland, but it is opposed by sufficient member states to prevent its adoption on a qualified majority. This position will change if the support is obtained of any one of the larger member states currently opposed to the draft directive. My preference, which is also the preference of the relevant Commissioner, Mr. Flynn, is to leave this proposal on the table until such a change occurs. The alternative would be to bring forward some compromise proposal which did not amount to a complete prohibition, but it is clear from discussions with my colleagues in other member states that any amendment which softened the proposals sufficiently to win over any of the countries currently blocking the directive would lose the support of some of those most in favour of it — in other words, there is no form of compromise which would secure the necessary support.
While we await an advance on this issue, there are many other steps which the European Union can take to tackle smoking, and I hope to secure agreement at next week's meeting of the Council on a resolution which I have tabled in relation to a comprehensive anti-smoking programme.