Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was not going to take part in this debate but, having listened to previous contributions, I decided to change my decision in that regard. I am conscious of what was stated in this House and at meetings of the old Eastern Health Board - on which the Minister and I both soldiered - by our colleague, former Deputy Charlie O'Connor, to the effect that our political views and positions are influenced by our life experience. My life experience has been heavily influenced by cigarette smoking. When I was a child, my uncle died - slowly and agonisingly - at 48 from lung cancer he contracted as a result of taking up smoking at the age of 12. When I was a teenager, another of my uncles died at 42 - again, slowly and agonisingly - as a result of the same condition. A third uncle did somewhat better and survived into his 70s. However, he also died as a result of lung cancer he contracted from smoking. My mother died at 72, having been healthy all her life but having also smoked all her life. She died as a result of secondary brain tumours which were caused by tumours on her lungs that were created by cancer. It is ironic that the only one of the five children in my mother's family who did not smoke is now 95 years of age. My aunt has lived to see all her younger siblings die. I assure the Minister that I am no friend of the tobacco industry and I know the havoc its products can wreak.

In paying tribute to the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, in respect of the workplace ban on smoking that he introduced, Members are recognising the benefits that have accrued since its introduction. It took courage on the Deputy's part to sponsor the relevant legislation at the time. I must admit that I was somewhat sceptical about the ban when it was introduced, and one of my concerns related to the fact that I did not want Ireland to become a nanny state. What Deputy Martin sought to do with the ban was to some extent seen in that context initially. I strongly commend the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, on the legislation he has initiated to deal with smoking in motor vehicles. That legislation must be enacted as soon as possible, particularly as it will deliver real and meaningful health benefits.

Perhaps I am alone but I have some reservations about this. Many Members have alluded to the major problem in this State with counterfeiting and smuggling. I may be more aware of it than others because I live in a county with two long-established street markets where access to cigarettes and counterfeit products at low cost is readily available. Despite the best efforts of An Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise personnel the problem has got worse rather than better. I fear the Minister's well-intended legislation may have the consequence of making the business of smuggling and counterfeiting far easier which, for me, is a particular problem. I imagine when the Minister is summing up he will address the matter, but certainly there is a fear among some people that the intended consequences of the legislation may not be realised and that, in fact, it could be counter-productive, and I am keen to express my concerns and reservations about that.

Deputy Michael Creed talked about the need for the Government to be careful because there could be litigation emanating from the tobacco industry. It is high time that the State considered litigation against the tobacco industry bearing in mind the damage that has been done and that continues to be done by that sector.

I will refer to an allied issue not covered in this legislation but important none the less, especially in the run-up to the budget, that is, the question of excessive alcohol intake, derived in large measure now from the reduced-cost selling that we see predominantly from the multiples throughout the country.

I am a person who likes to go to my local pub for an occasional pint. Like others I go along and have one or two, or I might go a little mad and have three. Anyway, we hear harrowing stories of families who load up their trolleys in supermarkets and bring home innumerable bottles of wine or slabs of beer, all bought at reduced cost. The impact of this excessive intake of alcohol on families is considerable. Recently, I met a youth group in my constituency. One interesting feature about this youth group was that the young people were having to act as carers to the adults. They had to get their mother or father up in the morning and they had to get their brothers or sisters - their siblings - up and out to school, or they had to go and fetch them from some location in town where they had been hanging out while consuming the slabs that had been bought at reduced prices.

I believe our publicans have, for the most part, been altogether responsible in how they have run their establishments. The social aspect of the local pub is a positive aspect of Irish life. It is a feature tourists come here to enjoy and engage in and I believe it is beneficial. However, this uncontrolled drinking, deriving, inevitably, from below-cost selling, needs to be targeted. I know the Minister has a passionate interest in this matter and, therefore, I call on him to raise with the Minister for Finance, as a matter of urgency, the need to do something about it. The licensing fees paid by the multiples and off-licences are a pittance having regard to the amount of alcohol they sell and the devastation that this alcohol can cause. Obviously, they are putting their far more responsible brethren in the bar trade at a major competitive disadvantage.

I wish the Minister well in his battle against the tobacco industry. I make no apology for expressing a reservation about this particular initiative and I call on the Minister to challenge the Minister for Finance to do something about the below-cost selling of alcoholic products.

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