Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A point we also need to remember is that we talked about the smell of smoke on people's clothes and in the house and so on. To the smoker that is a comfort zone, an enjoyable place to be. Within that zone the smoker feels this is lovely, like a garden of roses. It is a different perspective altogether. How do we address that?

I did not smoke until I was in my 20s, which is most unusual. It was out of a reason to have something to do while I was listening to people like me talking for a long time. I gave up and the first thing I discovered was the smell of smoke permeated the car, for example, because I would always smoke in the car.

It was now repugnant whereas previously I did not notice the smell of smoke at all. The smoker is not aware of that aspect at all. Others can smell it where the smoker cannot. There are a lot of areas there.

The information the witnesses have given to us, and the discussion, have been very helpful. The points I have taken from it relate to the packaging, which has been referred to already; the 10%, 20% or 30% extra that becomes available in larger amounts; and the need to ensure habit formation in the alternatives does not become a feature.

I saw a guy in a car in front of me at the traffic lights the other morning and he was obviously using one of those machines that exude a lot of smoke. I thought the car had gone on fire there was so much smoke around it.

I thank the Chairman for the indulgence and I thank our witnesses for the information they have made available to us.