Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I apologise, I am referring to the former Minister for Health. Long before it became a fact, I supported the banning of all advertising of tobacco products. I strongly support the plain packaging proposals, which I hope will be pushed through despite the obvious strong lobbying by the industry behind, and in front of, the scenes. I support genuine measures to help those addicted to give up nicotine.

It is utterly hypocritical for the Government to walk in here today and state this is a measure to help people give up addiction to nicotine. The Government is as hypocritical on this issue as it has been on water conservation. It now has the audacity to argue that the onerous and savage water charges are to help conservation, when for 20 years, this Government and its predecessor did not lift a finger to ensure conservation of billions of litres of clean water-----

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