Bill to restrict tobacco marketing is passed

Long awaited and much publicised, the legislation to "battle the tobacco epidemic" has passed all stages in the Dβil.

The Public Health (Tobacco) Bill increases the restrictions on tobacco advertising, sets up the Tobacco Control Agency and establishes a register of all people selling tobacco products.

It bans the sale of cigarettes in packets of 10, and puts a stop to certain tobacco marketing practices, such as sponsorship to promote a tobacco company's name rather than a tobacco product.

There will be increased restrictions on vending machine sales and customers will have to use a token or unique coin only available from staff.

In addition, confectioners will no longer be allowed to manufacture cigarette-shaped sweets.

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said the Government's anti-tobacco strategy would be "multi-faceted", with strong legislative controls, effective enforcement powers and resources, a health promotion dimension, a fiscal element and support for smokers to kick the habit.

However, Labour's spokeswoman for health, Ms Liz McManus, said the Minister had to be disappointed at the failure of his campaign to get tobacco excluded from the consumer price index.