Vol. 400 No. 2
10 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the extent of the involvement of his Department in the J.24 World Championships; if he is concerned that those championships are being sponsored by a cigarette manufacturing company; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): The J.24 World Championships are a very prestigious event in the sailing calendar and I was asked by the host club, the Royal Irish Yacht Club, to attend and speak at a function on 20th February to publicise details of the 1990 programme which is being sailed in Dublin Bay from 23-28 July.
The Minister who is responsible for marine affairs, and as a former Minister for Tourism, was very happy to be associated with the launch of such an important event which is expected to have an entry of 75 boats from up to 20 countries worldwide and to bring an estimated 1,000 sailing visitors to the Dún Laoghaire area.
I accept that we are referring to a very prestigious event but the Minister will be aware of the campaign being carried out by the Department of Health against smoking. Is the Minister aware that the world championships are being sponsored by a cigarette company and will he agree that there is a contradiction in regard to the Department supporting such an event?
(Limerick West): That is a matter for the Minister for Health. I am not concerned about the sponsorship of the event. That is a matter for the organisers and I do not have any authority to interfere in regard to that. We have facilitated the organisers of the event by providing the necessary facilities at Dún Laoghaire.
