Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. It is important to state that life expectancy has increased in Ireland. More importantly, the healthy and disability-free life expectancy has increased and is higher than the EU average. We all want to see that continue to grow. This is through the work of advocacy groups for healthy lifestyles. It is also connected to Government initiatives and legislation and the support of the majority of Opposition Deputies.

Ms Morrissey has said that the solution is staring us in the face and that these chronic diseases are largely preventable. She mentioned the five common risk factors as poor diet, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, smoking and obesity. Ms Morrissey makes it sound as if solving those problems would be easy. This concerns me because I do not think it would be. The number of smokers has dropped, but 18% of people are still smokers in Ireland. Government and the political system has engaged in different ways. Taxes on cigarettes have increased by 50 cent in every budget for the past number of years. We have also had initiatives on plain packaging and the distribution of cigarettes, health warnings, the ban on advertising and tackling the issue of vaping. What exactly could be done to reduce the 18% figure? I assume that none of the people in the 18% bracket are unaware of the health implications. At this stage, they must all be aware that smoking impacts on health. What exactly, short of outlawing cigarettes, can be done? Even that would not work because a black market would spring up. I do not think anyone would advocate a complete ban. What can be done to reduce the 18% figure to 2%, 3% or 5%?