Dáil debates

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.

SECTION 3

Question proposed: "That section 3 stand part of the Bill."

11:00 am

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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This section deals with the commencement of the Act. Does the Minister of State know when it is intended to commence the Act?

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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On 1 January.

Question put and agreed to.

Sections 4 to 7, inclusive, agreed to.

SECTION 8

Question proposed: "That section 8 stand part of the Bill."

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I do not oppose the section but I want to comment on a number of issues related to it. The fine for smuggling cigarettes into Ireland is €423, which is laughable given the profits involved and the fact that our neighbours fine people £5,000. I hope the Minister of State will make an order to change that. I understand it does not require primary legislation.

I hope the Minister of State will take on board the greater availability of therapies. Would she consider an order at a later date to the effect that all retail outlets which sell cigarettes also make available the current therapies which are only available over the counter in pharmacies? I ask the Minister of State not to delay. I note the HSE has no specific targets to reduce the prevalence of smoking in its plan. It is an area which should be examined in the coming year. There ought to be a very specific target.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I support the comments of Deputy Reilly on the fines for smuggling cigarettes because if they are not large enough people are not deterred from it as they can make a great deal of money. I do not think it is within the competence of the Minister to change that, but it is important for the Oireachtas to signal that it should be changed and that the fines should be greater.

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Finance, in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners, regularly reviews the legislative framework with regard to fines. The penalties for tobacco offences were significantly increased in the Finance Act 2010. The penalty for conviction on indictment increased from €12,695 to either €126,970 or up to three times the duty paid value of the goods, whichever is the greater, and-or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years. The tobacco policy review group, which is chaired by the chief medical officer, will set the target figures after it has had a little more time to study the issue.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I asked about the availability of therapies anywhere there is a sales outlet.

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. I will take on board what the Deputy has said about outlets.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Question put and agreed to.

SECTION 9

Question proposed: "That section 9 stand part of the Bill."

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I would be obliged if, in accordance with Standing Order 136, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would direct the Clerk to make the following correction to the text of the Bill:

In section 9, subsection 4(b) on page 6 of the Bill, in line 8, to change the word "purpose" to "purposes".

This correction is needed to clarify the drafting in this section.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Question put and agreed to.

Sections 10 to 15, inclusive, agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010 has been approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. On behalf of the Government, I thank those who have accorded such broadly based support to the passage of all Stages of the Bill in both Houses over the past week. The broad political consensus on the merits of the Bill mirrors the determination of people on all sides to refocus their efforts to reduce smoking rates generally, with a particular emphasis on young people.

With the core legislation already in place, there is strong and welcome cross-party support in the Oireachtas for the broader health promotion and smoking cessation measures that are necessary to reduce smoking prevalence further. The proposed integration into the HSE of the tobacco control functions of the Office of Tobacco Control will ensure this objective can be pursued with determination in the years ahead. This, allied with ongoing enforcement of the tobacco control legislation that is already on the Statute Book, is essential if we are to continue to make progress towards a tobacco-free society.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I support the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010. I also support the Minister of State in her important work. I hope the media takes the opportunity to report on this debate, in which the dangers of smoking, particularly to young people, were highlighted and the role of parents in this regard was emphasised. I congratulate the Minister of State on the passage of this legislation.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I welcome the passage of the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2010. We need to transmit our message to young people, in particular. I suggest we should consult them through the various bodies that represent them, such as the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Union of Secondary School Students of Ireland. It would be worthwhile to get their views on how we can make inroads into the growing number of young people who are taking up smoking. According to the statistics that were provided by the Minister of State, many of them start to smoke at a very young age, which is very worrying. If I remember correctly, a considerable proportion of those under the age of 13 - perhaps one in six - have taken up smoking. I am not sure of the age in question, but it is a very young age.

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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One in six of those under the age of 16 smokes.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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It is very worrying that such large numbers of young people are smoking. That needs to be the major focus from now on.

Question put and agreed to.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A message will be sent to the Seanad to acquaint it accordingly.