THE STORMONT Assembly has supported Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey’s drive to outlaw the display of tobacco products in shops.
But the implementation date remains undetermined.
Mr McGimpsey (UUP) told the Assembly that the North should follow the example of the Republic, where the legislation will be adopted this year.
This, he said, was preferable to falling in line with Britain, where retailers will have until 2013 to make the requisite changes.
He insisted the ban would help reduce the number of children and young people who take up smoking, as well as aid those attempting to quit.
The Minister, himself a reformed smoker, also confirmed plans for the prevention of access to tobacco vending machines for people under the age of 18.
He said the tobacco industry had responded to advertising bans by making their displays bigger, “so much so that they are now a greater source of temptation to children and adults alike”.
He added that almost 9 per cent of children aged between 11 and 16 in Northern Ireland were regular smokers.
Ian Paisley jnr voiced concerns on the impact the legislation would have on small businesses.
He claimed it would cost each trader £5,000 (€5,590) to change displays in their shops, a total of £15 million.
He said an implementation date similar to that in Britain would ease this burden.