Mr. Paul Candon:

I will put them away. With plain packaging there will be a greater opportunity to replicate the product, introduce it to the market and increase its sale which will not be controlled. It is happening throughout Ireland now, in towns, pubs, shops and back streets. It is widely available and not controlled. Those involved do not care whether they sell it to 13 year old children or adults, it is not a problem for them. We do care. We are responsible retailers.

On Monday last across the road from here in Buswells Hotel I was part of the launch of Retailers Against Smuggling, which has a website aimed at getting information to the general public on this problem and allowing them feed into the website where they have issues with people selling illicit product so we can inform the appropriate authorities. The retailers have come together to fund this and work with the Garda and the customs service, and will continue to fund and support the initiative as well as taking time to explain the problem we have in Ireland. We certainly do not want to come here and beat a drum that it is all about profit. We recognise the problems with tobacco but we want to act responsibly. We do not believe this initiative is the right one. We absolutely believe there are other initiatives which will give better bang for their buck to reduce smoking in Ireland.