The drinks industry engaged in a sustained effort to dissuade the Coalition from banning the sponsorship of major sporting events by drink companies, official records show.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show the industry’s lobbying campaign went to the top level of the Government. It featured global and national business figures, and interventions with Ministers were made at sensitive points in the debate.
The Coalition ultimately decided not to proceed with a sponsorship ban, but not before a battle between Minister of State for Health Alex White, who championed the proposal, and key Fine Gael Ministers.
Chief among the opponents was Minister for Sport Leo Varadkar, who successfully argued that there should be no ban without alternative funding for sports bodies to replace income foregone from sponsorship. Mr Varadkar had further concern that banning sponsorship could damage Ireland’s aspirations to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
The Government settled a new alcohol policy last October. The centrepiece is minimum pricing, which may yet run foul of European competition law.
Instead of banning sponsorship, the question was farmed out to an official working group for further scrutiny. Ministers told this group, which is but the latest in a line of official bodies to examine the matter, to report back within a year.
After prolonged conflict and haggling within the Coalition, any early resumption of moves to ban sponsorship is now considered unlikely.
While drink companies and sporting bodies never made any secret of their disdain for any sponsorship ban, the FoI records point to a concerted push by a well-resourced and well-informed industry to bring its concerns directly into the heart of Government.
The campaign went right up to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, ranking members of the Cabinet and top civil servants.
Source: Arthur Beesley, Irish Times, 06/01/14
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
