Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----are heard. I am not giving them up. I will also be challenging some of the statistics presented by the Department of Health, the HSE, ASH, and most of my colleagues in the Oireachtas. I am asking for a reasonable, balanced and fair hearing.

It is important that this is a debate that is balanced and based on reliable facts and information. Attacking or marginalising smokers is not acceptable. Treating people like lepers should never be an option in any democratic or inclusive society. The reality is that 30% of the population smokes and hounding them is not working. All Government Deputies should accept this reality. All we ask for is a little bit of respect and understanding. Of course we all respect the rights of non-smokers and we all respect the views of people who have genuine concerns about health, which must be protected at all times. However, that does not mean we cannot facilitate smokers. Knee-jerk reactions will never be a solution.

I am a smoker and I am addicted to cigarettes. I know it is not good for my health. However, trying to drive me and others out of the Dáil precincts, as Senator Crown and others have suggested - pushing us out onto Kildare Street - smacks of gross intolerance. It is unacceptable for a Member of the Seanad to do that. It is also unacceptable for the 30% of Oireachtas staff who are smokers to push us outside the gates of Leinster House into the rain. This proposal by Senator Crown should never be an option. Let us use the designated smoking areas here. Senator Crown should stop whingeing.

The Bill provides for the repeal of certain provisions contained in section 2 of the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Act 1978 and the amendment of section 38 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 in respect of activities which are intended or are likely to promote the sale of tobacco products. Section 1 amends section 38 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 and provides for the Minister to make regulations in respect of activities which are intended or are likely to promote the sale of tobacco products. Section 2 repeals provisions contained in section 2 of the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Act 1978 and revokes Regulation 17 of the Tobacco Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Sales Promotion) Regulations 1991. Section 3 provides for short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.

We all accept that smoking damages health, but so do excessive eating, drinking and lots of other things. We need to bring balance to the argument. We should not forget the significant tax contribution made by smokers to the Irish economy, which amounts to between €300 million and €400 million and could be as high as €500 million. This revenue from our taxes is available to the health service and the mainstream Exchequer.

I am opposed to an overreaction by the State. I know it is no longer trendy to be a civil libertarian but that is where I stand. I am very concerned about the strong emphasis on a nanny state from the new and younger Deputies. They want to investigate our private lives and practically look in our bedroom windows every night of the week. I am an old-fashioned civil libertarian.

This kind of cosy consensus should be challenged. I reject the Government's view, which is obviously the majority view in the House. This is a democratic society and I make no apology for having a pint and cigarette with my friends and neighbours. That is part of my life.

During the previous debate on smoking, I advocated having designated areas in every pub as a way of resolving the problem. This debate is part of distraction politics on the part of many on the politically correct wing of society. There are many other issues that need to be dealt with. There are patients on trolleys, including cystic fibrosis patients. There are all sorts of other problems in the health service to be addressed.

During the last debate, I argued that one third of a pub should be designated as a smoking area, with the other two thirds designated as a non-smoking area. The two areas would be separate, thereby causing no problem. This could easily have been achieved while respecting people's rights.

Many among the anti-smoking brigade have failed to mention the proper, modern ventilation equipment that can result in 12 air changes per hour. It is on the market but nobody mentions it at all. It is being used by sensible publicans and others who care about the 30% of the market comprising smokers. The latter are human beings also.

Let me deal with the economic arguments. The example of New York is regularly used in this House. United Restaurant and Tavern Owners of New York, which represents state restaurants and taverns, said that since the new smoking ban was introduced, turnover is down by 30%. Small family businesses in Ireland have been under severe pressure since the introduction of the smoking ban. They have lost from 25% to 30% of their regular customers. Having spoken to people in the trade, I note that in the region of 3,000 jobs have been lost. We have not considered the impact. The statistics I am presenting were researched by number of organisations, including universities. The needs of both smokers and non-smokers could be addressed in a sensible way.

Let me refer to the health impact and the number of deaths. It is important that we ask fundamental questions. Environmental tobacco smoke or smoke from passive smoking is classified as a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Almost everything we touch, eat or wash with can be described as carcinogenic to some degree. I am sure the Minister is aware that a number of carcinogens are present in a cup of coffee, for instance. Does he want to ban the drinking of a cup of coffee?

Let me refer to the figures mentioned by the Minister and other colleagues this morning. The 5,000 cancer deaths in Ireland each year are widely attributed to tobacco-related illnesses. There is no scientific foundation for such a statement. We have been fed this line for the past few years. The figure relates to the total number of deaths from cancers in Ireland. The National Cancer Registry lists the number of deaths occurring every year. The commonest cancers were those of skin, large bowel, lung and of the breast in women and the prostate in men. The registry does not indicate in any way that these cancers are due to smoking. This is something that the Irish have not been told. The statistic was simply a lie. However, if one throws out a figure such as 5,000, it lodges in people's minds.

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