Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Earlier I addressed the issue of cost as a disincentive to people starting to smoke cigarettes. I also addressed the issues of the proposed new graphics on cigarette packages and the smoking ban.

I would like to put forward my strong view that the promotion of sport among young people and the support of sport by the Government financially and within schools and communities will act as a significant disincentive to smoking. In that context, the recent sports capital grants are welcome. My experience as a former teacher, both within my family and elsewhere, is that young people engaged in sport have a personal incentive not to smoke so that they can develop and enjoy their sport. Their desire to get on a team or participate in individual sports such as martial arts ensures they refrain from smoking so as to be involved in sport, physical activity and an alternative lifestyle. I appeal to the Minister of State to bring the message to the Government that moneys invested in the promotion of sport and an alternative lifestyle will help overcome the enormous health bill resulting from cigarette smoking. This concerns the issue of people starting to smoke.

With regard to encouraging people to quit smoking, we need to focus on advertising and promotional work. We must emphasise the quality of life changes that will occur if people quit. There has been too much emphasis on the threat of lung cancer and other medium or long-term threats. However, if we are to succeed in encouraging people to quit smoking, we must advertise the immediate benefits of quitting, such as an improved appetite, improved breathing, cleaner air and an improved quality of life in the here and now. This should be the focus of advertising.

This Bill merits discussion. While it is a short Bill dealing with an amendment that needed to be addressed, we could well spend a full session discussing this serious health issue. The support clinics held by the HSE over the years - I have personal experience of one in Cavan town - for people trying to quit smoking and run by professional staff are excellent and I urge the Minister of State to reconsider the extent to which these clinics are available as there is great potential for them.

This legislation was made necessary by the ruling from the European Court of Justice.

I think the response is intelligent. It is maintaining the essence of our policy. It behoves us to take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to dealing with this great health threat. As a previous speaker said this morning, if tobacco were to be discovered now for the first time, it would be deemed to be an illegal substance. We should never forget that.

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