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Napoleon might have dismissed England as a nation of shopkeepers, but this afternoon the DUP sounded like a party of shopkeepers as they jumped to the defence of retailers concerned about Michael McGimpsey's proposed ban on the display of tobacco items. The retailers say the change could cost them £5000 in alterations to their premises and want until 2013 to implement the ban. That's the timetable scheduled for the rest of the UK. However the Health Minister argues that health is more im portant than wealth and wants to press ahead with the measure late next year.

There were some lively exchanges between the UUP and the DUP over the move, but when it came to a vote the measure went through without a division. Perhaps the most cutting put down came from Minister McGimpsey to the DUP's Alistair Ross. The East Antrim MLA had complained about the "nanny state" but the Minister reckoned the young politician's nanny must have been too careful about letting him out and about in the real world.

The ban will be subject to a consultation. Its final timing is up to the minister, whose officials point out that a similar measure is due to come into force south of the border from this summer.

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