asked the Minister for Health whether it is proposed to take steps, if necessary by the introduction of legislation, to discontinue the advertisement of cigarettes (a) on television and (b) in the press.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cigarette Advertising.
3.
Radio Telefís Éireann have already commenced the phasing out of cigarette advertising on their media and have set the date 1st April, 1971, as the date on which such advertising will cease.
I do not feel that I would be justified in seeking to compel the discontinuance of press advertising. The Deputy will be aware of the policy of my predecessors to avoid, as far as possible, the exercise of compulsion and I feel that this is the correct policy. He will be aware, too, I am sure, of the agreement of the cigarette manufacturers to comply with a code of standards for advertising which limits considerably the effectiveness of such advertising.
Why is it being phased?
As a result of representations that were made by the Minister for Health but the initiative actually was finally taken by RTE themselves.
That does not answer the question.
Is it not a fact that the Minister can discontinue, if he wishes, the policy of refraining from compulsory prohibition of advertisements of what is now recognised to be a dangerous drug? There are many precedents for doing this. Why cannot the Minister accept those precedents in relation to cigarette smoking?
The Deputy moved a private Tobacco Bill in 1964 or 1965. There was a long debate in which the Deputy gave all his views on this matter and showed his intense concern with this problem. At the end the Second Reading was defeated by a large majority of the House. It is impossible for me to argue on this occasion, in the course of a reply to a Parliamentary question, all the elements that enter into this but the main point is that we do advertising among school children; we show films to school children and RTE have taken this action. Beyond that the Government believe that this should be a question of voluntary restraint particularly having regard to the fact that the incidence of lung cancer depends to a considerable degree on the number of cigarettes consumed over a given period as the Deputy knows.