Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I would like to be associated with both sets of preceding remarks. The public health issue is more heightened in recent times and that is for the good of individual and public health. The visibility of people smoking, whether it be cigarettes, cigars or pipes, in public places is not the best example for young people who are not even of smoking age. It could look attractive and glamorous in public places where people are relaxing and enjoying themselves and be a temptation to young people to start smoking. I would encourage people to consider restraining their habits and their visibility in the best interests of not giving bad example, or in the best interests of giving good example by not smoking, to young people. People will say that this is a sign of our becoming a nanny state but it is a valid petition and it deserves to be treated in the context of the best up-to-date information which, I believe, we will get from the Department of Health.