asked the Minister for Health if he has completed his examination of various initiatives for more effective controls on the advertising of cigarettes and alcohol; and, if so, the result of such examination.

25.

asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the reduction or elimination of the advertisements for cigarettes in the media, in the interest of public health.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together. I hope shortly to be in a position to make a statement on the matters which the Deputies have raised in relation to the advertising of cigarettes and alcohol.

Can the Minister say when he last gave the same answer to the House?

That does not seem to be a relevant question.

I have no doubt the Official Report will show when this matter was raised.

Arising out of the Minister's non-reply, will he not agree that over six months ago he gave a very similar reply and, in the interim, nothing has happened?

It is not true to say that in the interim nothing has happened.

Can the Minister then say what has happened in the interim?

They did not smoke at the Árd-Fheis.

I have been having discussions with the interests concerned.

Nothing has happened.

I have been having discussions with the interests concerned and I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

Is it not a fact that this goes back over 20 years to the Minister's predecessors? Is it not about time he who claims to be a reforming Minister took some steps to deal with this very serious problem of an avoidable source of illnesses of a very serious nature: cancer of the lung, bronchitis and cardiac diseases? Surely the Minister should take his courage in his hands and stand up to the tobacco barons and get something done about this. He has been in office for a year now.

Not quite a year. I accept that the case against cigarette smoking has been scientifically established now. This is one of the major items of preventive medicine with which I am concerned. I hope to be in a position very shortly to make a statement about advertising of tobacco generally. In the meantime, I think the Deputy will accept that considerable progress has been made in the war against cigarette smoking. In fact, it is one of the areas in which we are achieving success.

Deputy Boland is correct. Six months ago the Minister gave exactly the same reply that there would be a decision shortly. He seemed to be even more enthusiastic then than he is now. It seems as if he is rather frightened of the problems and does not intend to take any serious steps about them.

I am not frightened of them. I certainly intend to introduce considerable controls and I am anxious to introduce controls.

When the Minister says advances have been made, what advances have been made? Can he substantiate that claim?

The institutions concerned particularly in this area are encouraged by the inroads being made against cigarette smoking. It is true that the incidence of cigarette smoking among the general public is on the decrease. I trust the Deputy will accept that I share his concern. I will lose no opportunity of directing public attention—and I avail of this opportunity to do so again—to the fact that cigarettes are deadly and that the smoking of cigarettes is an immediate and direct cause of death from different diseases.

Is it not a fact that the difference between my concern and the Minister's concern is that he can do something about it and I cannot? Why will the Minister not take the action which is long overdue?

The Deputy is repeating a question which has been asked several times.

I assure the Deputy I will be taking action shortly.

Can the Minister give any kind of a date? Will it be three months or six months or three weeks or six weeks?

Months.

Question No. 26.