Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Health, Dr. Holohan and Ms Luddy. The presentations were very good.

Obviously, we are only starting to go through the heads of the Bill. I have a question on head 13, as well as some general questions. Perhaps there is a really obvious explanation, but if I buy a packet of contraband cigarettes which somebody has seen fit to bring in on Henry Street when this legislation is enacted, it will not be an offence. Why is the Minister excluding the individual who can continue to go to markets, Moore Street or wherever else? Why are we not including this as an offence?

Others spoke about the successes, results and analysis from Australia. Has any research been conducted on what reformed smokers spend the money they used to spend on tobacco products? In its campaign the tobacco industry is raising concerns about the disastrous effect this measure will have on the profits of the retail trade and its overall turnover. I dispute this because I have a very good memory of being the benefactor when my mother gave up smoking when I was a child. She put the money in a pot and we got to spend it at the end of every month. I thought I was loaded because she spent most of it on clothes for me. Has specific research been conducted which we could use to dispel the growing campaign that the money will not be disseminated in the retail industry, as is being stated by the tobacco industry? Fears are being fuelled by this as a result.

Again, it is being propagated by the tobacco industry, but there is a slight danger that this will only be seen as a small thing and that the view will be taken that we should be stopping the main suppliers of contraband in this and other countries. In unison with this legislation, what measures will we bring forward next year to stop the huge amounts of contraband being brought in through our ports?

Will somebody explain why nicotine replacement therapy products are only available in pharmacies? People dying for a fag on a Sunday afternoon are roaming around. We are making it a lot more difficult for people who want to give up cigarettes and tobacco products by not making nicotine replacement therapy products available in as many outlets as possible. Will the Minister explain why their sale is restricted?