Ms Deirdre Drennan:

To respond to Senator Conway's question, the federation is not a pro-smoking organisation. We are here to promote the sale of a legal product so that informed adults can make an educated choice as opposed to having minors buying something illegal from a criminal.

The EU tobacco product directive is currently going through the European Parliament. One of the measures in that legislation is section 3.7 which refers to products containing nicotine. It does not specifically say electronic cigarettes, but that is what it is referring to. One of the proposals in that section is that electronic cigarettes be moved out of newsagents and convenience stores into pharmacies or health shops. We feel that would be a short-sighted measure from the health lobby's viewpoint because products containing nicotine are a weaning tool. Nobody began smoking by using an electronic cigarette. If we want people to give up cigarettes, the alternative should be beside the traditional because it is largely an impulse purchase. It should be as readily available as it possibly can be. If it is put in a different building, people will not move up the street to get it. There will be shorter trading hours as well. I see the Deputy's point, but if he wants to do that, there should be alternatives to support it. That tobacco legislation goes the opposite way, however, making it more difficult to wean oneself off.