Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The psychology that is being applied to disincentivise smoking is all wrong. The shock treatment is wrong. I agree with Deputy Ross in that regard. It tends to affect those who have already been tragically affected. It makes them relive the tragedy and brings it up close and personal once again. It does not do anything for anyone else other than to revolt them and turn them off. I do not think that works. I have seen statistics which attempt to prove such an approach works but it does not, it has the opposite effect. Technical evidence will do most. I refer to specific evidence that can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt on medical grounds that if one follows a particular path such a thing will happen. That works more than anything else.

I have to laugh when I hear my male colleagues question why pregnant women might want to smoke in the vicinity of a maternity hospital. It would be interesting to ask them. When I was party spokesman on health I heard a prominent former Member of this House indicate at a public meeting in UCG a number of reasons that might happen. It was interesting. The purpose was not to justify it but a case was put forward as to the reason for it and how it might be combated. There may be reasons for such behaviour. When one speaks to pregnant women who are smokers they refer to the pressures and reasons why they continue to smoke.

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