The proposed ban on the sponsorship of sporting events by the drinks industry has been rejected by an all-party Oireachtas committee.
The group accepted evidence from sporting bodies that they would not be able to find alternative funding. The draft report by the committee on transport and sport has concluded that the main sporting organisations in Ireland would suffer greatly if legislation prohibiting sponsorship was introduced.
Outgoing committee chairman Tom Hayes, now Minister of State for Agriculture, said in a foreword to the report that members were cognisant of the strongly opposing views held by sports organisations and medical professionals.
“Nonetheless in recognising the realities of the State’s current difficult economic situation, where additional funding for sports from Government sources could simply not be considered, the committee agreed that a ban on alcohol drinks sponsorship could not be countenanced,” he wrote.
Ban decision
The Government will soon make a decision on whether to implement such a ban, recommended by the steering group report on a national substance misuse strategy.
The Oireachtas committee heard representations from the various sporting bodies, the medical profession and the drinks industry earlier this year in response to the steering group recommendations.
The committee has concluded in a draft report that the sporting organisations were all cognisant of the dangers from the misuse of alcohol and were supportive of measures to counter these problems.
Source: Stephen Collins, Irish Times, 17/06/13
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
