Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, ó mo chontae dhúchais féin, fear a bhfuil an-mheas agam air. I join with those who expressed sympathy and regret at the loss of Mr. Power, whom I did not know but who obviously had made a considerable impression. I wish to pay an unqualified tribute to my constituency colleague and fellow resident of Cork, on a very brave decision which pitted him against forces that were up until then regarded as invincible in Ireland. The vintners' lobby was one of the lobbies with which most politicians and parties were profoundly reluctant to engage in a head to head contest. It was taken to be a fact of political life that if one took on the publicans head on, one would lose. The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, did not lose and the country benefited enormously from the measure. It was a world-leading decision and one which will spread across the whole planet. In my view, within 20 or 25 years, countries in which it is permitted to smoke in public places such as bars and restaurants and public buildings, will be the extraordinary exception.

I fully share my colleague's view about the cultural and aesthetic shock of going into premises outside of Ireland — particularly in our neighbouring island — and suddenly facing the odour of smoke. One of the pleasant side-effects of the smoking ban in our licensed premises has been a spectacular improvement in the general hygiene of the places because smells that were once covered up by the smell of smoke are no longer covered up and therefore have had to be dealt with properly. This is a commendable improvement.

I am concerned that the extraordinary success of the Irish smoking ban has provoked multinationals into watching this country much more closely. I refer to the extraordinary image of the ambassador of the United States lobbying against a levy on chewing gum, presumably the fear of further good example being the issue. I note the collapse of the Government's attempt to prohibit alcohol advertising which I believe was also the result of extraordinary lobbying. What has been achieved is wonderful but the forces that lobby for the status quo in many areas where public health is concerned have now decided that Ireland is a country to be watched very carefully. I regard this as a form of backhanded compliment.

It is always difficult for people who do not smoke, including myself, to understand the appeal of smoking. I can find most of the vices in life enormously appealing. I am naturally disposed towards vice and I do not think it is original sin; it is rather nice to have sex and——