Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for bringing this legislation before us. Before Deputy Durkan leaves, I would say to him that it is never too late to stop smoking. I hope he will quit today. I grew up in a house where all the adults smoked and all of them gave them up for a variety of reasons, predominantly health reasons. This legislation is long overdue.

This is a public health Bill; it is in the interests of the public and their health. It is also important that we acknowledge the role of the Department, the different agencies and stakeholders and the work done since 2002. Despite him calling me a Jack Russell last week, I commend Deputy Martin on the smoking ban. It was a good initiative and I supported it.

I am a non-smoker but many of my friends smoke. I suppose the smoking ban has created a new form of clientele in pubs. There are smokers, non-smokers and those who sit with smokers in the smoking area. The important thing is that we do not just say the smoking ban is the end of our efforts. It is important that we combine text and photo warnings on tobacco products.

I remember ard-fheiseanna when there would be smoking at the top table in the auditorium and when tobacco companies sponsored sports such as golf and show-jumping. There was the great image of the Marlboro Man adorning our magazines and newspapers to make smoking look clean and cool but we know that is not the case. It is critical to acknowledge that we are failing to communicate the message to young people. As a schoolteacher, I saw many young people start smoking. A former principal in the school would suspend students for smoking, saying they were suspended for being in the company of smokers. He was a hard act on smoking but it did not work; the measure was too severe. We must communicate a message that resonates with young people.

I listened to Deputy Griffin talking about obesity and other issues. We are failing on obesity, tobacco and alcohol. This week's report on alcohol consumption shows the numbers dying from alcohol-related disease is increasing. Now, 50% of smokers die from tobacco-related disease, with 7,000 people dying in this country every year from the effects of smoking. Deputy Finian McGrath claimed this legislation is part of the nanny state. This is, however, about public health. I am not in favour of prohibition and accept people have the freedom to make a choice.

See this speech in context