Protect children from advertising - Greens
The Green Party is attempting to toughen up broadcasting legislation through restrictions on advertising for fast food and toys, and a total ban on advertising to children under a certain age.
The party will bring a private members' bill before the Dáil on Tuesday, designed to ‘protect children from harmful television advertising’.
They say a survey they carried out on daytime TV advertising last year revealed over half of the ads were for junk food - and they believe that this contributes to childhood obesity.
Deputy Eamon Ryan is the Greens' communications spokesman. He says we have to help parents to say 'no'.
"Any parent of a young child would know the effects of pester power. I have four young children myself and I know when I’m in the supermarket or walking in any shop, my four year old is pulling at my arm screaming that he wants such and such a product that he could have only have seen on television.
"It's hard enough for a parent to resist and I think anything we can do to help parents in that regard should be done".
