Results 15,221-15,240 of 24,331 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

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

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Mr. Jennings. The Bill has not been published yet, so we are just discussing the heads of the Bill. This is the consultative pre-legislative scrutiny session and we are not really discussing the National Pensions Reserve Fund. I call on Mr. Paul Candon, Retail Excellence Ireland, to make his opening statement.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I call on Mr. Mike Ridgway, a spokesperson for several UK packaging manufacturers and a former managing director of Weidenhammer UK Limited.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Mr. Vincent Jennings, chief executive officer of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Mr. Joe Sweeney, district president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents in Ireland.

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

Jerry Buttimer: We will resume in public session. We are in session two. In terms of the format for the meeting today, in some sessions there are two persons per delegation and in some there are one, depending on the size of the delegations and the issue being discussed. I hope people understand that we are fair and equitable in this committee and our staff treat all with respect and courtesy, and I hope...

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

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Ms Buckley. I now welcome, Ms Sharon Higgins, head of sectors, IBEC.

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

Jerry Buttimer: Deputy Eamonn Maloney also asked a question on the socioeconomic demographic of smoking.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I sincerely thank all of the delegates for making the time to attend and assist the joint committee in its consultation on the heads of the Bill.

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

Jerry Buttimer: The decline in the number smoking was mentioned in the presentations. We constantly receive messages regarding the German model of education. Why do we need the legislation if the number of smokers is decreasing?

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

Jerry Buttimer: I understand that.

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

Jerry Buttimer: Will what is proposed assist?

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

Jerry Buttimer: One cannot buy alcohol before a certain time in off-licences. Teenagers and young adults can enter a shop and buy cigarettes at any time of the day or night if they can produce identification. Should this be a factor in our approach?

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

Jerry Buttimer: At a recent meeting we discussed that issue. On the subject of providing assistance to those who wish to stop smoking, do the delegates, as medics, have a view on whether products such as Champix or nicotine patches should be allowed to be sold over the counter in retail stores as opposed to pharmacies?

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

Jerry Buttimer: I will hand back to the witnesses, starting with Dr. Sadlier.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I will now call on three members who have indicated their desire to contribute, namely Senator Colm Burke and Deputies Mitchell O'Connor and Fitzpatrick.

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

Jerry Buttimer: Thank you Dr. O'Connell. I welcome Professor Luke Clancy and Dr. Kate Babineau from the Tobacco-Free Research Institute and invite them to make their opening statement.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Dr. Patrick Doorley, the faculty of public health medicine spokesperson on tobacco from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

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

Jerry Buttimer: Our next speaker is Dr. Finbarr O'Connell, consultant respiratory physician at St. James's Hospital.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Dr. O'Regan. The next speaker is from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland and I welcome Mr. Owen Metcalfe, chief executive, and Dr. Helen McAvoy, director of policy. Dr. McAvoy shall speak and she is very welcome.

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

Jerry Buttimer: I thank everybody for attending this morning. As we are in public session I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery that mobile phones should be turned off or be in flight mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment. As members are aware, the general scheme of the public health (standardised packaging of tobacco) Bill was referred to...