Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010 has been approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. On behalf of the Government, I thank those who have accorded such broadly based support to the passage of all Stages of the Bill in both Houses over the past week. The broad political consensus on the merits of the Bill mirrors the determination of people on all sides to refocus their efforts to reduce smoking rates generally, with a particular emphasis on young people.

With the core legislation already in place, there is strong and welcome cross-party support in the Oireachtas for the broader health promotion and smoking cessation measures that are necessary to reduce smoking prevalence further. The proposed integration into the HSE of the tobacco control functions of the Office of Tobacco Control will ensure this objective can be pursued with determination in the years ahead. This, allied with ongoing enforcement of the tobacco control legislation that is already on the Statute Book, is essential if we are to continue to make progress towards a tobacco-free society.

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