Results 541-560 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I want to repeat what Senator Jillian van Turnhout has just said and, in particular, what the Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, stated. The Senator quoted some of the Minister's comments, but the important point he wanted to make was that the legitimate trade was involved in the production of illicit cigarettes. Unfortunately, Senator John Crown is not here today, but two or three weeks ago...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The last point I want to make - I am delighted to hear that retailers are responsible for stopping under-age children from smoking and that they try to uphold the law - concerns an article in The Sunday Timeson 4 August 2013 on a study of 100 Irish shops which found that almost half of those shops had sold cigarettes to a 15-year old during a two week period in August. The study was carried...

Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I would like to share time with Deputies Regina Doherty and Peter Fitzpatrick.

Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Last Tuesday was World Cancer Day, a sad day. Like so many others I have lost many relatives and friends to cancer, including skin cancer and melanoma. Yet only a few years ago a well-known song, entitled "A Sunbed Song" was played on radio stations, encouraging our young children to go out and top up their summer tan through the use of sunbeds. I am therefore extremely pleased to welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Issues (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: 241. To ask the Minister for Health if it is his policy that the National Treatment Purchase Fund ask nursing homes that are not charging for social programmes to so charge and to give the discount to the NTPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7232/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Issues (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: 243. To ask the Minister for Health the way the National Treatment Purchase Fund defines a local area and the local average rate; if he will supply a copy of the NTPF policy document on the said definition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7236/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Issues (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: 244. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide full details on the National Treatment Purchase Fund policy not to prepay for future events or take account of future capital expenditure or the future impact of Health Information and Quality Authority standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7238/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: 258. To ask the Minister for Health when a urologist will be appointed to Temple Street hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7368/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the gentlemen for appearing before the committee. I would appreciate a "Yes" or "No" answer to the following question. Do the witnesses agree that their products kill half their intended users? I ask each company how much it spends annually in Ireland promoting its products to retailers? Is not tobacco an enormously profitable global business which preys on the misery and illness...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am coming to the Bill. I ask each company here if it intends to take legal action against the Government when plain packaging becomes law and the basis for this and the indicative damages it is likely to seek? I understand the companies made a profit of €227 million in 2011.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Do these figures explain why the tobacco industry is so desperate to keep peddling death in Ireland and to keep recruiting young people to this filthy habit? The industry's business model, as mentioned by some of my colleagues, will not survive unless it gets children smoking. The Minister has called the tobacco industry an evil industry. Do the companies think anyone would believe they do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Hold on; I have two more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Is Mr. Donaldson seriously telling this committee that these cigarettes called Vogue are not designed to attract young girls? He has produced that brand in a fancy box aimed at young women and girls. Mr. Meagher stated-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: No; come on now. I have prepared for this not thinking there would be other people here. Let me continue, please. I am on a roll here. Does Mr. Meagher believe that his industry has a problem because one in two smokers will die from a smoking habit? His industry has to find a replacement for every person who dies. He gave three predictable consequences if we introduce plain packaging....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Mr. Freda talked about children.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Just give me one second.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Mr. Freda mentioned slim cigarettes. His company produces the Silk Cut Super Slims brand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: He comes in here and says one thing, but he does another.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: If I can just say one thing to the last witness. In his submission, he said he represents smokers in Ireland. He also said he was fed up with people being treated like children. However, we are worried about children smoking and the whole tobacco industry. He described plain packaging as dull and grotesque. I agree with him but that is the way it should be. Maybe he does not remember...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2014)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Okay, I will withdraw that. I suppose what I meant was that one in two smokers will die.