A doctor who is the director of a leading arts festival which refuses sponsorship from drinks companies, has criticised the Department of Health for not supporting the festival.
Dr Micheal Fanning, a Dingle, Co Kerry, GP, said he was "extremely disappointed" with the lack of response from the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, and his Department, to a request to sponsor an event at Feile na Bealtaine in west Kerry.
Around 5,000 people take part in the festival, which is now in its seventh year. It offers a lively mix of politics and arts during the first week in May and will cost about £50,000 to run this year.
The festival had sought sponsorship for a piano performance by Micheal O Suilleabhain and 19 members of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Dr Fanning said the Department was prepared to put money into sports, including the Irish Masters snooker tournament, so they could have supported "what is perhaps one of the few, if not the only major, festival in Ireland to take a stand against alcohol".
The festival decided against alcohol sponsorship because of Dr Fanning's experiences of dealing with the "devastating effects" of alcohol abuse on young people. The festival has 14 sponsors. Among the chief sponsors this year are the Arts Council, which contributes £15,500, and Udar as na Gaeltachta.
Among the key events are an exhibition on loan from the Irish Museum of Modern Art; talks by Czech author Ivan Klima; a performance by the Irish Chamber Orchestra in aid of charity; Cuban dance bands; Samba performers and a Mexican Indian band.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health yesterday said while Mr Martin was extremely concerned about underage and youth drinking, the issues of sponsorship by tobacco companies differ from alcohol sponsorship.
Tobacco sponsorship had been completely banned while alcohol has not. However, Mr Martin would generally discourage sponsorship of sports events by alcohol companies, said the spokesperson.