Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Mr. Smith might tell us why. He also mentioned, and I hope I picked this up correctly, that apart from the statistics on male and female adults, a growing number of children are presenting. Why is that so? Is it that there is more screening of children or is there another reason it is occurring in children of which we were not aware previously?

This may be a silly question for Mr. Smith because there may not be only one answer. What causes it? Is there a different cause in adults than in children? Is it something we bring upon ourselves? Is it something with which one is born? Would Mr. Smith tell me briefly or point me in the direction of where I can find more information on what causes it?

Professor McDonnell spoke about the bad reputation of the patients who suffer from COPD. Obviously, we need to change that. What can we do to change that, particularly in view of that the fact that it affects even those who have reformed? I appreciate the majority of those who get it are either smokers or former smokers. Are we still painting with the same awful brush those who have been brave enough to give up but who, 15, 20 or 30 years later, still catch COPD? We should not be treating them in that way. Most smokers do not want to smoke and find themselves in the difficult position of not being able to give up. Such treatment of them is unfair. How could we change that?