Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I admire the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Micheál Martin, for introducing the legislation to ban smoking in the workplace during his tenure as Minister for Health. It was innovative at the time and still is today. Credit must be given where it is due. It was the very first time such legislation was introduced in any democracy in Europe. It has since been adopted by many others and admired and supported by the World Health Organization.

I do not need to outline the effects of smoking financially on communities and the State, nor do I need to outline the effects of smoking on the individual citizen. It must be acknowledged that over 5,000 people die in Ireland each year as a result of smoking. It is expected that those who survive smoking and continue to smoke in later years will reduce their life spans by between ten and 15 years. Approximately €300 million is the cost to the State of acute care for those who develop an illness as a direct result of smoking tobacco products.

I wish to focus on two areas, the first of which is the smuggling of tobacco into the country. This is a very serious crime which is having serious and damaging effects, as is the smuggling of heroin and cocaine. I acknowledge and welcome the efforts of the Customs service and the Garda. They continue to monitor and prosecute those who smuggle tobacco products into Ireland.

It is frightening to accept that over 25% of Irish adults smoke tobacco products. This amounts to one in every four, or 25 in every 100 citizens. It is more concerning that up to 12% of children, some as young as six or seven years, smoke tobacco products. I have no doubt that the tobacco industry which is a very powerful industry in Europe, just like the National Rifle Association in America, deliberately targets young people and spends vast sums of money on advertising directly and subtly or indirectly. It is evident in Formula One racing, golf and the horse racing industry. Throughout the world the tobacco industry targets events associated with these sports. In some countries, including in Africa and Asia, it still advertises on television, in the cinema and on public transport. I agree with Deputy Billy Kelleher that the European Union has been slow and weak in responding to the power of the tobacco industry. I welcome the efforts of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, who is using this legislation as one of the anchors as Ireland commences its Presidency of the European Union.

The second issue on which I wish to focus is adherence to current legislation on smoking in the workplace. I take serious issue with the comments of Deputy Finian McGrath. I refer, in particular, to some of the intemperate language he used. He referred to the treatment of those who smoked as akin to the treatment of lepers. This is most unhelpful. The Deputy said 30% of people smoked, but I believe the figure is closer to 25%. Irrespective of which figure is correct, those who smoke are at risk of cancer, asthma, emphysema, mouth diseases, continuous and chronic chest disease and blood disorders. Their eyesight is at risk, as is the taste process in their mouths.

When one considers the cost to the State, one will note we have a responsibility not only to discourage those who smoke today but, more important, to do so in the interests of showing leadership to the next generation. That is part of this legislation and what the Government is about; it is not what Deputy Finian McGrath is about, namely, playing the percentage game.

A large proportion of people, particularly those living in underprivileged countries, remain targeted by the tobacco industry.

I am greatly concerned about the example shown by the industry, the effects of that and the influence it will have on our young people who are the next generation of adults and leaders. It is generally the unemployed who rely on social welfare and live in underprivileged communities who are targeted by criminal elements who make available to them smuggled tobacco products the contents of which nobody knows. Evidence cited today suggests those products are even more dangerous than the cigarettes for sale in shops. A shocking report presented by "Prime Time" highlighted clearly that the content of most smuggled tobacco products were more dangerous than that of regulated tobacco products.

I welcome this Bill. I congratulate the Minister on being in the House and his staff and particularly those working in health promotion and in the tobacco control unit in the Department of Health. I support the legislation.

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