Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Two of the questions I asked were not answered. I will refresh the witnesses' memories. Why has the Law Society tried to come in on this constitutional right rather than the constitutional right we discussed last year in the context of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill? If these companies bring an action against the State, will members of the Law Society represent them?

I would like to set out some of the context to this debate from the perspective of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Dr. Gietz of John Player & Sons Limited had a great deal to say earlier about intellectual property. He referred to what a ruling like this could do to our reputation abroad in the context of the significant role foreign direct investment plays in Ireland. We are not talking during this session about a benign industry. We are talking about where one in two users die. I may have been somewhat flippant when I said that one in two users of Facebook do not die, but I think it illustrates the point I am making. I am trying to put this debate in context by emphasising that the primary objective of this committee is to protect the health of the Irish public. Perhaps the witnesses can respond to those points.