Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will, of course, support this proposal but it is important that the Government invests heavily in our customs infrastructure to ensure tobacco smuggling does not increase as a result of this measure. I acknowledge the presence of former Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, who had responsibility for health promotion. She highlighted the issue of young people taking up smoking in their teenage years. We have to ask, given all the evidence that is available, why we are not communicating with that segment of the population as to the dangers of tobacco. If we can stamp out smoking at that age, it will not become a problem later. While we support the financial resolution, we would like to see investment in infrastructure by the Minister to ensure this is not a charter for smugglers.

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