Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of the witnesses and apologise on behalf of Deputy Ó Caoláin who, unfortunately, cannot be here. I thank all of them for their presentations and congratulate them on the positive work they have been doing. It is important young people are being listened to and that we know where they are coming from.

Sinn Féin supports the proposed legislation. I have a few questions and ask that the witness to whom each is relevant would respond. How are young people affected by passive smoking and are they concerned about it? Why do young people start smoking? Ms O'Sullivan referred to the following quotation: "It’s not even just the cigarettes, it’s the packaging. It’s all the swirls on the pack, the colours, they look fashionable. You kind of want them sitting on the table to be able to say 'Yeah they’re mine'." That says an awful lot. Do the witnesses believe we need to target young people with anti-smoking campaigns and do they believe such campaigns are good or relevant? What more can be done? Could the legislation be improved? If so, how?

I refer to the statement made earlier that addiction keeps people smoking and branding entices them to start. Given there is no branding on illegal drugs but people still use them - perhaps for socioeconomic reasons - is the problem one of branding or addiction? Could the same be applied to cigarettes?