Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As Chairman of the committee, I join Deputy Ó Caoláin in standing with the Minister and complimenting and commending him. It is wholly inappropriate that as the elected Members of Parliament we are threatened by the tobacco industry. It is very important that in this public health initiative we send a statement not just to citizens, but across the Western world that we are in favour of public health. I commend the Minister in that regard.

The day I receive correspondence from a tobacco company that claims plain packaging in Australia has led to an increase in smoking rates, contrary to what other research says, my question is this: if it claims the policy is not successful, then why is it so aggressive in its attempt to put an end to it? Like Deputy Ó Caoláin, I have only one vested interest, namely, the public health of the citizens of the nation. As Chair of the committee I commend the Minister on this initiative. It is important that we tease out the amendments on Committee Stage. If there are no other comments, we will move on to deal with the amendments.