Ads for children to face controls

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Eamon Ryan is preparing to curb junk food advertising aimed at children.

Mr Ryan said he would introduce stricter codes on such advertising in legislation being prepared by his department.

“Broadcasters have a responsibility to follow the codes which protect the wider public interest from individual commercial interests,” he said.

“In the upcoming Broadcasting Bill, I plan to get that balance right in the development of new advertising codes. We need to protect our children from the advertising of food products which are high in sugar, fats or salts.”

Earlier this month, the Consumers’ Association and the Children’s Rights Alliance called for an outright ban on junk food advertising before the 9pm watershed.

Mr Ryan did not spell out exactly what restrictions he had in mind. However, he said the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland would be given the powers it needed to curb such advertising.

Mr Ryan acknowledged that “dark economic clouds” are approaching.

“International factors such as increasing energy and food costs, subprime mortgage defaults and a resulting credit crisis will all make the business of Government more difficult.”

He said his department’s task was to “direct our retreat from the use of fossil fuels and advance our country into a new digital age. In energy policy, that means developing renewable sources of power and making more efficient use of our energy”.