Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies for their very positive and supportive contributions. I am glad that many of them acknowledged the support the OTC has given to the Department of Health and Children, the successful implementation of the smoke-free initiative in 2004, the ban on sales of packets which contain fewer than 20 cigarettes and in-store display and advertising and the introduction of the retail register, all of which have proved to be very positive.

The HSE has recently published its tobacco control frame work to provide a coherent approach to promote public health by reducing the use of tobacco in Ireland. The framework also recognises the need for effective and evidence-based tobacco control measures, including offering people who want to quit help and warning of the dangers of tobacco.

With regard to combined text and photo warnings, an issue raised by Deputy Reilly, while the European Commission decision does not make it compulsory across the EU Ireland has decided to introduce them. As he pointed out, the introduction of the combined text and photo health warnings on cigarette packs on sale here is provided for under section 6 of the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2009.

The Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to finalise the necessary regulations to provide for combined text and photo warnings on tobacco products. I understand and share the frustration of the Deputy but, unfortunately, there are some issues which have not yet been resolved with the Attorney General.

With regard to smoking cessation supports, nicotine replacement therapies are available to medical card holders since April 2001. Evidence shows, as Deputy O'Sullivan said, that lower socio-economic groups have a higher instance of smoking and spend a higher proportion of their disposable income on tobacco. It was considered that this group is in greatest need of assistance in helping them to quit the habit. Accordingly, it was decided as an exceptional measure to make nicotine replacement therapies available on prescription to medical card holders.

Smoking cessation services within the HSE offer a wide range of services in different areas. Specialist smoking cessation counsellors are trained to deliver these services on a full-time, part-time and sessional basis nationally. Health promotion departments within the HSE also offer an extensive programme of training which includes developing skills for health care practitioners to support people who wish to stop smoking.

On the illicit trade in cigarettes, I wish to clarify that it is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed by it that it is responsible for the protection of tobacco products, tax and tackling the illicit trade in cigarettes and tobacco products. It is concerned at the level of cigarette smuggling and the illicit trade in Ireland. It has to be acknowledged that tobacco taxes in Ireland are currently the highest in the EU and despite the comparatively small size of the Irish market significant profit can be made by fraudsters who engage in this type of illicit activity.

It is difficult to speculate on the extent of the illicit tobacco problem. However, official figures show that between 2008 and 2009 the quantity of cigarettes on which duty was paid fell by only 6.7%. At the same time due to increased rate increases the total excise duty on tobacco products increased by €45 million. I am aware the Revenue Commissioners enures all aspects of its ability to deal with the threat of the illicit trade in tobacco products are subjected to continuous review.

The Department of Finance, in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, regularly reviews the legislative programme, and is continuing to implement a wide-ranging programme of measures. These include the continuing seizure of illegal products and the prosecution of offenders; monitoring of Internet sites and instigating test purchase to identify importation routes; monitoring of sales patterns to identify and investigate irregularities and target enforcement activity; contributing to action taken at a new level to improve the controls of excisable products in the community; and monitoring of sea cargo on the basis of risk analysis seizures. There is ongoing international monitoring of international courier and air freight services, including Internet traffic and air passenger arrivals, which has also resulted in significant seizures.

Many Deputies referred to the increase in young people smoking and the need for education, which I support. The OTC report on children, youth and tobacco found that more than three quarters of all smokers in Ireland started smoking before they reach the age of 18 and more than half of all smokers started before they reach the age of 16. The research also found that 16% of young people aged between 12 and 17, or one in six, currently smoke. We know the younger the age a person starts to smoke, the higher his or her nicotine intake is as an adult. The earlier children start to smoke the more likely they are to remain smokers.

I support the call for reaching out to young people. The Deputy also commented on the fact that taking the right approach with young people is very important. I use every opportunity I have to engage with students, especially when we visit them under the Oireachtas outreach programme, to discuss how they think we can best tackle this problem.

The efforts to keep the price high have been successful. Cigarette prices in Ireland are the highest in the world. At €8.55 per pack they are more than €1.30 more expensive than the next most expensive country which is the UK. Our tax take alone is €6.71 per packet which is higher than the retail price of cigarettes in all but one other EU member state. Given the increased amount of smuggled cigarettes now being placed on the Irish market, concerns were voiced by the Government that another significant price increase would lead to an increase in smuggling. Consequently, there was no price increase in the past two budgets.

On targets, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, has established a tobacco policy review group under the chairmanship of the chief medical officer to review the implementation of tobacco control and health promotion agenda from 2011 onwards. The group includes representatives from the key stakeholder groups and has consulted widely across the NGO sector with a view to setting out priorities for the future towards the ultimate objective of a tobacco-free society.

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