Ms Norma Cronin:

I might refer to that question because of the sum of €3,500 spent by the smoker. From research and from my experience of running the national smokers' quitline, we know that health is the main reason for people wanting to quit. That is the first thing everybody says. We ask everyone what their reason for quitting is. It is health but the second reason is the cost. It does have an impact which is why it is so important that we continue to advocate for price increases in tobacco. Despite us thinking we have one of the highest prices for cigarettes, we know from the World Health Organization that it is a very effective method.

In respect of whether we are doing enough with regard to the quitline number, Ms O'Meara highlighted in her presentation the fact that having the quitline number on the pack does a number of things. It is crucially important. We know about the increasing calls to the quitline from the Australian research. We know from our national smokers' quitline that when we have an ad campaign, we get a huge increase in the volume of calls. The quitline number will do two things. It will prompt these smokers to pick up the phone and possibly make their first attempt or get the information about quitting. Second, it is a very cost-effective measure when one considers what we must spend on advertising the quitline number or advertising campaigns so it will do what it says on the pack. It is crucially important that this is included. ASH Ireland fully supports the legislation. I think all the other questions have been dealt with.