Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The tobacco industry has had to accept the huge damage to public health that its products have caused. I note the following statement from the representative of P.J. Carroll, Mr. Donaldson: "Let me say that we fully accept that smoking causes serious and fatal diseases." In fairness to him, he did not state that this applies only to children and young people, but across the board. It is extremely important that we recognise that smoking tobacco causes serious and fatal diseases for all smokers, irrespective of when they start smoking. What the industry does not accept are the consequences of accepting that this is the case. It has, using the substantial resources available to it, resisted all efforts by the State to properly engage with people who smoke, with a view to combating the smoking habit and attraction of smoking. At every turn, the tobacco industry has sought to challenge the State in its efforts to reduce smoking and it continues to do so. The presence of the witnesses indicates that this pattern continues and its outlook remains the same.

While the tobacco industry is on the wane in developed countries, sadly its product is acquiring a new future in developing regions. I have no doubt that significant and new public health issues will present in many countries across the globe because more and more people are being encouraged to take up tobacco smoking. I regret that very much.

The bald fact is that the witnesses are representatives of an illness industry. I have no other way of phrasing that statement given the cost that tobacco has imposed on the lives of ordinary citizens over many decades not only in terms of the health of many individuals, but also in terms of the cost to each person who provides for health care services. With all respect, it is time for payback. We have been burdened with an inordinate additional financial responsibility and others have had to bear the consequences of having their lives shortened or experiencing serious illness through the use of the products the tobacco industry manufactures.

Many of the witnesses referred to the black market and I agree it must be stamped out. Who is producing the cigarettes that feed the black market trade? From where do these products come? Are any of the companies represented here involved in the provision of products that enable black market profiteers to carry out their illicit trade? Do the witnesses know who is producing these goods? These are serious matters which need to be brought to the attention of the authorities not only on the basis that they cost the Exchequer, but because they have legal implications. This issue cannot be addressed independently of whatever knowledge the witnesses may have in this regard.

Mr. Meagher from John Player stated he fully agreed with the Chief Medical Officer in respect of the evidence from Australia. He then stated: "The ban on press advertising, the ban on smoking in pubs, the ban on ten packs, the ban on display of tobacco in shops and significant excise increases have not had any measurable impact on smoking rates." I disagree fundamentally. All of the measures cited by Mr. Meagher have had a positive impact. Statistics are often abused and misused. I know many people who may have been enticed to take up smoking but have not done so. Collectively, the measures to which Mr. Meagher referred have made a contribution in this regard. It is impossible to measure the potential of the introduction of the plain packaging measure.

He is right to say that the evidence is not phenomenal in terms of the Australian experience but it is part of a package of measures and is part of what has been described here and I accept the view on momentum.

It is an inevitable momentum that the industry should face up to and its collective minds and skills and talents would be better employed addressing an alternative sustainable future for its employees that would make a very positive contribution not only to the industry but to the lives of the broader mankind. My only question to each of the witnesses, except John, who, in fairness, has been upfront and I know exactly where he is coming from and I have many friends who are on the same page with him. I say, well done, I have heard everything he has had to say and respect it. I would like to ask the tobacco industry representatives, each in turn, if the Chair will ask them on my account, if they smoke tobacco.