Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Chairman can indicate when I have to adjourn the debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I am pleased to see the former Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, back in the hot seat looking after health matters. I saw a twinkle in the eye of the Minister's official I when he assumed the seat. The Minister led this campaign in respect of plain packaging on tobacco products and a host of other measures while he was Minister for Health. The statistics in respect of smoking related illnesses and deaths have been cited in the course of this debate on several occasions. In fact, they have been cited in many other debates that have come through the House over the years. This has occurred to such an extent that it is easy to lose sight of the meaning of the statistics. It is important to remember that the statistics reflect fatalities on a scale that one would normally associate with a conflict, epidemic or natural disaster. However, smoking illnesses are not natural; they are entirely avoidable and I believe that the continual efforts to reduce the use of tobacco in this country will be seen in the fullness of time as one of the most important social issues of our generation. I am proud that this Dáil, under the guidance of the former Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, has made significant progress in this regard.

Upon the enactment of this legislation, Ireland will be poised to become only the second country in the world to introduce standardised tobacco packaging as a measure to reduce smoking. We are leading the way in an international context in the fight against an extremely harmful drug, which has long been deep rooted in our society

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