Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the Minister's proposals. A transition year student from Cashel is with me this week. On behalf of her school and the young people of Ireland, she presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on this issue last year and I think she met the Minister. The Minister should stand up to the bullies and intimidation, but big companies should also be checked out.

These big companies are advising other Departments and are being paid huge fees for doing so, which is a direct conflict of interest.

I appeal to the Minister to ensure that small vending companies, of which they are many in my constituency, are catered for and not put out of business. We need businesses in rural Ireland. The businesses of which I am speaking are in the main located in the main small villages and towns of rural Ireland. These are reputable businesses which we must ensure are not enormously damaged as a result of the introduction of plain packaging. While the ultimate aim is to protect the health of our citizens account must also be taken of the affect of this measure on small businesses, many of which are family businesses, that provide employment and pay their rates and taxes.

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