Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Yes, and it was started by people in the county. The Government should now deal with the main issues in health which affect people daily. The smoking ban has deflected people's attention, which is not necessarily a good thing.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as the saying goes. It is still too early to fall over ourselves congratulating the Government on doing a good job. This country has a great record for introducing laws but does not have a great record for enforcing them. I am my party's spokesperson on transport. Despite the penalty points system, this year the number of road fatalities is 20 more than in the same period last year. All Members of the House had been hoping to see a further reduction. Enforcement is a key issue and it will be particularly important in implementing the smoking ban.

I am not a smoker and have no wish to become one. In fact, I am anti-smoking. However, I have some difficulties with the smoking ban. The ban on smoking in company cars is daft and unenforceable. Unless people are obliged to put a sign on their cars indicating that they are company cars, it cannot be enforced. It is also grossly unfair, particularly for sales representatives who travel throughout the country. Members will have experienced that amount of travel during the Seanad election campaign. If one is travelling from Donegal to Cork to Dublin to Galway and if one is the sole occupant of the car, one should be allowed to smoke. It is different if one is sharing the vehicle with somebody else. In that case, I can accept the point about the car being a company vehicle. However, if one is the sole occupant and user of the car, one should be allowed do as one wishes. This is a valid point which should be re-examined. It is a silly and unenforceable rule which takes from the merits of the smoking ban.

Senator Morrissey referred to young people smoking. In the past few days a number of people have wondered what effect, if any, the smoking ban will have on young people. Some were of the opinion that it would glamorise smoking even further and encourage young people to smoke. It will be interesting to see what plans the Government has to tackle that, particularly with regard to young females. The smokers among my former students are predominantly female. One rarely sees young men smoking; they appear to be more keen on keeping fit. Women, for some reason, are more likely to smoke, which is regrettable.

We should not just leave this issue as it stands. It is ironic that people who are smoking will be penalised if they go into pubs but somebody who is taking illegal drugs can go into a pub. The Minister has a role not just in imposing a smoking ban but also in dealing with the major drug problem in this country. Carlow is experiencing an increasing drug problem because of the success of the Garda in putting pressure on the Westies gang, which operated in the Minister of State's constituency of Dublin West. Unfortunately, however, the gang has spread into other areas, such as Carlow. The town is experiencing a drugs epidemic.

What are the long-term consequences of the smoking ban? Senator Morrissey said the State will make major savings. However, it could be argued that because people are not smoking and, as a consequence, will live longer, it will have huge implications in terms of pensions and people dying from degenerative diseases. In future, for example, people will be less likely to die from cancer or heart attacks and more likely to die from Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease. Has the Government any plans to invest money into research in this area in an effort to make predictions? Otherwise, we might be setting ourselves up for a big fall.

Dublin Airport is a hub for Europe. Passengers on international flights might have to land in Dublin to get a connecting flight to another European destination. They will now have to check out of the airport to smoke. Take the example of a passenger travelling from Washington to Dublin to Paris. The passenger will have to check out of Dublin Airport to have a cigarette and then check in again. Until now, such passengers could smoke in a restaurant. Some smokers will find it difficult to survive without a cigarette for more than seven or eight hours. Has the Minister considered this? It is a little ridiculous to oblige passengers to check out and in again at an airport. Perhaps certain areas within airports could be designated for smoking. It might also calm people. The danger is that if a person is tense when flying, they might drink more instead of smoking and that could lead to even greater difficulties.