Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is a related point. The witnesses are predominantly girls so where are the fellows? Are they not involved with the issue? Smoking goes across gender lines, although it may be more dangerous for women if they are expecting a baby. Why has the running been left mainly to women?

I very much appreciate the delegations being here and I agree with the comments and questions from the two previous speakers. This legislation will be enacted because it has cross-party support, but will there be a greater temptation for young people in particular to smoke cigarettes that people may bring back from holidays because the packaging will be much more attractive than what will be available in Ireland? Will there be a temptation to use illegal tobacco products and how would we stop that behaviour? I have one or two ideas but perhaps the witnesses can add to them. When people go on holidays they are allowed to import approximately 800 cigarettes per head, but many people bring in numbers way in excess of that, which has a definite impact on the market, in addition to illegal stock. Will the witnesses comment on that? I thank them for their input in that regard. To what extent does education work in trying to stop people smoking or drinking to excess?