Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Yes. Go raibh maith agat.

This Bill is a technical measure which provides for the dissolution of the Office of Tobacco Control and the transfer of its functions to the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my party colleagues have any objection to what is, essentially, a bureaucratic change which will eliminate waste and duplication and which, it is also hoped, will lead to a more streamlined and efficient operation of the functions that were heretofore entrusted to the Office of Tobacco Control.

Like previous speakers, I welcome the fact that the debate on the Bill provides Members with a brief opportunity to address some of the issues around smoking. Such an opportunity was not offered to use last week when the budget measures were introduced.

There is no doubt that progress has been made in recent years. The most noticeable development has been the smoking ban and great credit is still due to the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, for being successful in steering that particular measure through the Houses with the support of parties on all sides. However, smoking remains all too prevalent. Very sadly, it is apparent that young people continue to take up smoking in great numbers. Older people who have spent a lifetime smoking are experiencing the hugely damaging health consequences relating to a habit that is very difficult to break. The cost of smoking in the context of the health of the population is enormous and the drain it has caused in respect of ever-diminishing resources within the public health service has been substantial.

The campaign to reduce levels of smoking and work towards a smoke-free society is extremely important. This campaign must be maintained and expanded. I sense that there is unanimity across all parties and among the Independents in respect of this matter. Education is hugely important in this regard, particularly in light of the large numbers of young people who are taking up smoking. Legislative and other fiscal measure must be placed under constant review. We must consider the support and assistance these can offer in the context of the overall objective of promoting a significant reduction in the numbers of people who smoke.

Action on Smoking and Health, ASH, Ireland has expressed disappointment that the Minister for Finance did not increase the price of tobacco in the budget last week. It points out that price is recognised by the World Health Organisation and others as the most important and effective way to discourage people from taking up smoking or to encourage them to quit smoking after whatever period of their lives in which they have had this habit. Perhaps most importantly, it discourages young people from experimenting with tobacco and taking up the habit in the first place. The Government response to ASH's criticism is to express the view that such price increases might encourage tobacco smuggling and this matter already has been addressed by previous speakers. I disagree with the Government in respect of that stated view.

Tobacco smuggling certainly is a huge and growing problem and there is a great deal of evidence to demonstrate this. This problem definitely needs to be tackled in its own right. It represents a huge business for criminal empires internationally and domestically and there obviously is a big market for it here in Ireland. A recent RTE documentary highlighted that cigarettes are being illegally imported into this jurisdiction in their billions and very often are of such a quality that they are more toxic and dangerous than those that have been legally imported and sold here legitimately through normal and recognised outlets. This is a deplorable trade and anyone involved at whatever level, whether criminal bosses or people selling cigarettes from their homes to young people, must be condemned. They should be made accountable under the law. Moreover, there can be no exceptions in this regard.

The legal tobacco industry is a very powerful force, as has been shown many times down through the years. It can deploy a great deal of money to lobby against any changes that might eat into its annual turnover and profits. This was evident at the time of the smoking ban, as I am sure each Deputy who was an elected Member of this House at the time will recall. There have been some well-known lobbyists for the tobacco industry in this State, including one who is a leading europhile and who always has figured prominently in favour of every European Union treaty referendum on which I can think back. I was reminded of this by an article that appeared in the Irish Independent last year. It is a pity that some of the political correspondents from that newspaper are not present in the Press Gallery because it is very rare for me not alone to quote from it, but even to acknowledge that I had read the damn thing in the first place. However, I will cite that organ favourably regarding a piece that appeared on 22 October 2009. It recalled that the chairmen of the tobacco companies Carroll's, Gallaher and Player Wills demanded a meeting with the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, in 1978 as the then Minister for Health, Charlie Haughey, prepared new laws to stamp out cigarette promotion. I will share this item with the House. The tobacco bosses argued that a ban would cut back on their sales, leaving them with less money to create new employment in other non-tobacco industries and, according to the article that allegedly quotes directly from their lobby, "if employment was not provided for our growing young population, there could be a fusion between Marxism and the IRA". This says a great deal about the mentality of the tobacco bosses and about the type of arguments they have employed when trying to influence decisions here over the years. I ask whether anything has changed. Members must steel themselves to this project and to put them back on their heels at all times.

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