John Crown (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will call a vote but I will speak to the motion before we vote. On a point of information, nowhere in this motion is a date suggested. It has always been our intention that we would agree that this is what we will do and that we will fix a date. It should not be some vague, indeterminate date. We should pick a date such as 1 March or 1 July and give people a chance to make alternative arrangements.

I want to make a few points. First, on the suggestion that the smoking areas should be hidden, a cigarette that is smoked away from the gaze of one's constituents is not a cigarette that is less likely to give one cancer, a stroke or a heart attack. It does not matter who is or is not looking at one; it is dangerous.

Second, people have repeatedly referred to the fact that smoking is a legal activity and have suggested that somehow it would be inappropriate to ban a legal activity. Somebody needs to tell the Health Service Executive, HSE, that because that is what it has done in 17 hospitals and what it will do in every hospital in the country within the next two years. Already that is the case in the HSE headquarters and in many public buildings and campuses. It is policy. If a serious issue arises on this we need to call in those people and ask them the reason they are infringing the rights of people to do something legal in State-funded facilities. I do not believe we will do that.

I am very sensitive to the personal security issue but there is a simple solution to it; stop smoking. If people are afraid to go out on the street to smoke a cigarette because they may face the wrath of an inflamed electorate while they are doing that, they should stop smoking. It is the simplest thing to do. I am more conscious-----