Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As I will not need the 30 minutes allocated to me, I will share time with Deputy John McGuinness provided I am in a position to conclude before 7.30 p.m. The Deputy wishes to make a statement at the end of my contribution.

This Bill is another element in the legislative framework designed to combat tobacco smoking. It gives us the opportunity to focus again on the serious damage tobacco smoking does to the health of people and the significant cost to society of tobacco smoking. It provides us with an opportunity also to address the ongoing campaign to reduce and, I hope, eventually eliminate this practice, thus creating a smoke-free society. While there will always be a remnant of smoking among a small minority, for maximum effect the aim must be to achieve a smoke-free society in Ireland.

Much progress has been made. Measures undertaken by successive Governments and the campaigning work of the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation, ASH Ireland and others have helped reduce the numbers who smoke and unquestionably improved public health generally. A combination of awareness through public education and pricing measures has ensured a reduction in the numbers who smoke. It is, however, still a startling statistic that just under 25% of the population use tobacco. Furthermore, the numbers of young people starting smoking and becoming addicted at an early age has yet to be continually addressed.

It is estimated that smoking causes well in excess of 5,000 deaths each year, mainly as a result of conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. Nearly one third of cancer deaths and 90% of lung cancers in Ireland are attributed to smoking. The cost to society in human and financial terms is significant. According to one estimate, the cost to the State in health service provision in a single year is €1 billion, approximately one third of which is incurred through hospital admissions.

It is estimated that if smoking continues to expand globally at its current rate, it will be the single largest cause of death worldwide before the middle of this century. This is because the tobacco industry's great area of expansion is in developing countries which have not yet put in place the preventative measures that have been provided for in developed countries such as Ireland. The tobacco industry is an industry of death, which is exploiting the most disadvantaged people on the planet. Despite this, there are still people who lobby on its behalf, including in this country, happy to benefit from the enormous profits reaped by these multinational companies.

It has been correctly noted that if the tobacco drug had been first developed in our own time, it would never be authorised to be sold and would be banned outright. That is not argument for a ban on smoking, as prohibition would be unworkable and would merely drive the habit underground, thus benefiting organised crime. The point underlines, however, the lethal nature of this drug.

In terms of legislation, the ban on smoking in enclosed work-places has been a major success. As well as improving the health of workers and those visiting workplace premises, the knock-on effect of making smoking less socially acceptable has been profound. It is now common for people who smoke, especially those with children, to do so only outside their homes.

The Bill provides for plain, standard packaging for products and, as such, it is a welcome addition to the legislative framework. While it will not, of itself, lead to a dramatic reduction in consumption, it must be seen as another element in the compendium of measures aimed at reducing smoking. The tobacco industry spends enormous sums on product design and presentation and is vehemently opposed to this legislation. This is reason enough to support its passage.

I will digress briefly by drawing to the Minister's attention the argument that there is a distinction between cigarette smoking and its continuing and, sadly, wide appeal, especially to vulnerable young people and pipe and cigar tobacco use, which is confined to an older and ever declining minority. The British Department of Health's proposed guidelines for the introduction of plain packaging were published last week. Pipe tobacco and cigars are excluded from the intended measures. If this approach is realised, we will have another case of cross-Border divergence rather than convergence. Will the Minister give further consideration to the impact of section 10? I am particularly keen to protect the legendary Kapp & Petersen business and its internationally known premises in the city of Dublin. That this is a landmark business is beyond question, despite having moved a short distance from its former location. No one I know and certainly no young person is being attracted to pipe smoking. I ask that the Minister address this issue in his closing contribution. The issue merits address and an answer must be recorded on the floor of the House. I will hand over to Deputy John McGuinness.

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