Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Fitzgerald and Ms O'Brien and I thank them for their presentations. It is very important that we make people aware that smoking is very dangerous. Putting a warning cover on the packaging is a step in the right direction. It is also very important that people realise tobacco contains 70 cancer-causing substances. It is wrong that tobacco should be flavoured as this will encourage young people to smoke. A tracking and tracing system is very important as it would help find the origin of the product and would also stop black market activity. I am very concerned about tobacco products being bought on the Internet. If it is possible to buy tobacco on the Internet it should be stopped. As has been stated, 70% of smokers began smoking under the age of 18. Most families have a computer, so it is very important that the Internet sale of tobacco products is stopped. Approximately 5,200 people in Ireland die every year from smoking-related illnesses. The job being done is very positive and I have learned much this morning. The more people realise that smoking is dangerous and the more we publicise this the better.