Vol. 519 No. 6
147 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if every tobacco company whose cigarettes are sold in the State has detailed to his satisfaction the ingredients contained in cigarettes manufactured by them; and if he will detail the information furnished. [14415/00]
There are a number of foreign tobacco companies whose cigarettes are sold here who have not yet provided the information being sought in a satisfactory format. These are Philip Morris, which manufactures the Marlboro brands, Japan Tobacco/RJ Reynolds, which manufactures the More brands, Ritmeester, which manufactures cigars, and British-American Tobacco, one of whose subsidiaries manufactures Clan tobacco. The tobacco companies here who distribute these tobacco products have requested the companies concerned to supply the information. I will consider what, if any, further measures are needed in this regard in the context of the tobacco Bill which I am having drafted at present.
Revised information recently submitted by Gallahers, Carrolls and Players which discloses the company and brand names of each product and gives more detail on the amount and levels of additives and ingredients in the products would appear to meet our requirements. Legal advice received in relation to release of the revised information furnished is under consideration and I will make a further statement when this is finalised.
148 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason he has not published the interim report on litigation by the tobacco free group; and if he will furnish a copy of the report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. [14416/00]
The report of the Joint Committee on Health and Children on smoking and health includes a section dealing with litigation against the tobacco industry which recommended that the committee should be given powers of compellability in relation to documents and people for an inquiry into the tobacco industry. I have previously indicated my support for the committee's proposal. It is expected that a resolution granting powers of compellability to the committee will be introduced before both Houses of the Oireachtas this year. If this is successful I am advised that the committee should then call for the report under section 11 of the Committee of the House of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privilege and Immunity of Witness ) Act, 1997. I hope the committee would then consider the interim report of the Tobacco Free Policy Group on litigation in that context.
149 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will initiate to effect a ban on cigarette advertising and sponsor ship as and from 1 July 2000 as previously announced; and the reason no legal mechanism has been put in place to effect a ban in this regard. [14417/00]
Under existing regulations the amount of money that may be spent by tobacco companies on tobacco advertising and sponsorship is as determined from time to time by the Minister for Health and Children so no new legal mechanism is required to effect a ban. I have advised the tobacco industry here that no further expenditure will be allowed after 1 July this year on tobacco advertising and sponsorship other than for limited retail and trade advertising. This is in line with the EU directive banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship. I might also mention that I have asked the new Office of Tobacco Control to work closely, as a priority, with my Department to formulate a comprehensive tobacco Bill.
