Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2018
152. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the input his Department will have on the issue of advertising and marketing to children in view of the recent publication of a document (details supplied) and the strict timeframes involved in publishing the action plan on Internet safety; if the absence of a monitoring body will impede this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16885/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Section 10 on governance of the Codes of Practice concerned, the Department of Health's involvement in them will include the designation of a monitoring body and the maintenance and publication - either by the Department or the monitoring body - of a register of signatories to these codes. Section 10 also stipulates that the monitoring body shall produce an annual report for the Minister for Health.
The Codes of Practice concerned were published in February. They were developed by a multi-stakeholder group that included IBEC, Food Drink Ireland, Retail Ireland, Association of Advertisers in Ireland and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland. Work on the designation of a monitoring body to monitor these codes for compliance and effectiveness is underway and impedance of the work referred to by the Deputy has not been envisaged in the interim.
