Vol. 421 No. 4
199 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding the recent comments by the Social Affairs Commissioner (details supplied) in which he expressed surprise that several member states seemed to show more concern with the economics of the proposed ban on tobacco advertising than with the objectives, especially in view of the fact that some 430,000 Community citizens die annually from smoking related illness.
200 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to accept the European Commission's Directive on tobacco advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. I share the views and concerns of the Social Affairs Commissioner that economic considerations have slowed the acceptance by the Council of Ministers of a draft Directive on Tobacco Advertising.
My position within the Council of Ministers has been to urge support for the draft Directive which proposes a total ban on direct advertising of tobacco products, except inside sales outlets, and have it adopted as a matter of urgency.
Given the casual relationship between smoking and certain forms of cancer and heart disease I will continue to adopt a pro-active approach at European level and support strict control measures on advertising tobacco products.
