Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill before the House. I welcome its provisions. These images are shocking and will have an impact, which is a welcome development. I quit cigarettes seven years ago but could not have done it without the introduction of the smoking ban. We may often be critical of the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, who is not present today, but that was one of the most progressive steps ever taken by an Irish Government to tackle smoking. It has had positive ramifications.

At the time, I felt there should have been a stepping-stone approach, with provision for special designated smoking areas in bars. In hindsight, however, I believe it was a very good and progressive step to take. I remember working in bars when I was at college and being completely blocked up from having worked in such a smoky environment. Later, I became a publican for some years and that decision was made because of the smoking ban. I would never had run my own bar for three years without the ban being in place because it was a desperate environment to work in before its introduction.

I know many former publicans who now have serious health problems. They put it down to having worked in smoking environments for years. I have family members who have respiratory problems due to having working in such environments for decades. There is no doubt that there is a big link between exposure to smoking environments and health problems.

Deputy Eoghan Murphy made a very valid point concerning provisions being made by certain establishments to accommodate smokers. We need to examine that situation and ensure that we are ahead of the game. We cannot allow any complacency in this area.

This Bill is a step in the right direction. It is never too late for any smoker to give up cigarettes. I hope the message does not go out from here that there is a witch-hunt going on because that is not what is happening. The Government is hoping to co-operate with smokers throughout the land to try to help them quit cigarettes. This legislation will hopefully assist in that regard.

Ten years ago, when I was in NUI Galway, I was part of a college committee. At the time, I proposed that we should introduce a poster campaign on campus, including images such as those it is proposed to include on cigarette packets, in an effort to help people stop smoking. Unfortunately, my colleagues on that committee did not agree with me, so the campaign did not happen. Since then, however, a person who smokes ten cigarettes a day, will have smoked 36,500 cigarettes in the past ten years. Therefore, if some people had quit cigarettes as a result of that poster campaign, which never happened, I am sure there would have been positive health ramifications for them.

While it could be argued that it is overdue, this Bill is the right thing to do. Hopefully it will help people to stop smoking. The message needs to go out that it is never too late to quit. Ten years from now, if someone has smoked 36,500 fewer cigarettes as a result of this legislation it will be a very good thing.

We should also focus on counterfeit cigarettes in circulation because God only knows what they contain. It is one thing focusing on cigarettes that are regulated on the mainstream market but the number of counterfeit cigarettes entering the market from abroad is a major problem and there are many harmful and dangerous chemicals and ingredients in them, the true danger of which might not be recognised for many years. As a society and as a Government, we need to tackle that issue. People need to be aware of what they are putting in their systems when they smoke these cigarettes. This again comes down to education and informing the public.

Deputy Donohoe mentioned junk food. It does not present as an external problem similar to cigarettes but, at the same time, it is worth considering a similar provision to deal with junk food. Calorie counts and other nutritional information are available on packaging for most food products but this area could be examined to ascertain whether it can be taken further because obesity and coronary disease are major problems in this country.

Perhaps the Minister could also address the problems caused by excess alcohol intake. A shocking report published earlier this week highlighted huge numbers of people dying every year as a result of alcohol poisoning in this State. More information needs to be given to people about the dangers of excess alcohol intake and the long-term damage that can be caused through alcohol abuse such as liver disease. The link between depression and alcohol is important and many people are not aware of this. However, we have a spiralling suicide problem, yet the only information I have seen regarding the dangers of alcohol are advertisements warning people to drink sensibly, which is a step in the right direction but it is not enough. As a former publican, I am not anti-alcohol. I enjoy a drink and I have drunk too much at times like most people but, at the same time, we need to give people as much information as possible to allow them to make informed decisions. That means laying all the facts on the table. I am not trying to be a party pooper or to take away from people's enjoyment but we need to put the information out there. There is general ignorance regarding the link between depression and alcohol and this needs to be highlighted.

Health warnings also need to be carried on advertisements for motor vehicles. Thankfully, steps have been taken in the right direction in recent years to reduce the number of road deaths but every road fatality is one too many. As a small measure, a warning should be placed in motor industry advertisements to highlight that a car is a lethal weapon and every time a driver sits behind the wheel of a car, he or she and the public are in danger. A subtle warning needs to be given to drivers in such advertising. Perhaps that could be considered. I do not take away from the important role the motor industry plays in the economy and the important role owning a car has for many people, particularly in rural areas where they have no other way to get around.

I thank the Minister of State for introducing the legislation. It is a step in the right direction and it is good to have heard the many positive comments on all sides of the House. Hopefully, this is another step in the right direction and further measures will be taken as a result.

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