Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the contributions and thank the witnesses for attending the committee. It is almost 20 years since a committee like this one first produced a document on the dangers of tobacco consumption. Deputy Alan Shatter was allocated the task of producing the report. I remember the strong lobbying by the tobacco industry at that time which brought a lot of pressure to bear. In addition, international pressure was put on the committee at the time to persuade it against the approach that was being taken. The report played a role in what has been done so far as regards banning smoking in the workplace. That was one of the issues raised in the report at that time.

This is a further development and I hope it will be one of a series of such developments to protect public health, including the future health of our children.