Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. I congratulate the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, on implementing the ban on smoking in workplaces. At the time of implementation I did not agree with him and if I had a free vote at the time I would have voted against the measure, as I used to be a smoker. I know what the addiction entails. I used to smoke 50 cigarettes a day up until 2 January this year. I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on the subject.

I know it is very difficult to give up cigarettes. If smoking in bars was still permitted, I would not still be off cigarettes. Usually if a person goes out for a drink and people are smoking, that person would smoke. I now find that when a person goes out for a drink to a local bar, for example, nobody is smoking and one does not have the urge to smoke. A person can have a drink in comfort. I find this to be the case.

There were many anti-smoking advertisements on television and on billboards. Two advertisements affected me. On television a 34-year-old man's lungs were shown. I will not describe what was in them as it was revolting. A billboard advertisement showed the brain of somebody who had suffered a stroke. The brain was dissected and clots of blood, etc., were visible. These advertisements affected and helped me. They undoubtedly make a difference.

In my home town there are two secondary schools, with approximately 1,000 children attending. When school finishes at a 3.45 p.m. or 3.50 p.m., I see the children coming from school. These young people range from 15 years to 17 years. The number smoking is frightening. The Office of Tobacco Control states that less than 24% of the Irish population are smokers. I honestly would not accept those figures as I believe many more people than that are smoking, particularly young people.

Senator Feeney mentioned the frightening statistic that by 2020, the biggest fatal disease in females will be lung cancer. It is important that we always keep vigilant. It has been proven beyond all doubt that smoking is very bad for us, but we must persist in getting that message out. The message is not getting to young people. It did for a time but recently, judging from what I see, young people are again smoking in greater numbers.

I am unsure as to whether it is a question of price or money. I was in a shop on a recent Saturday morning where a young girl was buying some bits and pieces. She got her cards and other bits, although she was not buying cigarettes. I would estimate she had €100 in her purse, although she was a young girl of perhaps 13 years old. It is not a question of money, as children undoubtedly have money. Although increasing the price of cigarettes is a deterrent, it is not the answer.

As a member of the North Western Health Board, I was aware of the practice of inspectors going into shops, particularly small corner shops. People running those shops usually employ young people to help out during the summer. In a number of cases, an inspector would have a 15-year-old girl with him or her dressed up to look older than 18, and these people would be used to catch out a young person behind the counter in the selling of cigarettes. That is not the way to go forward.

There have been 38 prosecutions in the country since the regulation was introduced. One prosecution was unsuccessful because the small shop owner fought the case and won it in court. It is wrong to carry out such a practice with small shop owners, as the fine is €3,000. Most business people are compliant and do not sell cigarettes to people under 18. I honestly believe this. It may occur if a young person is behind the counter. I know these fines must be in place but it is wrong to try to trick somebody.