Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I am interested in the comments of Senator White and Senator Maurice Hayes. On the BBC website, a report stated:

The UK's anti-ageism legislation takes effect on Sunday, 1 October, and employers will be wondering precisely what it means for them. But they only have to look across the Irish Sea for some guidance. In 1999 the Republic of Ireland introduced laws which outlawed age discrimination in employment.

We should take advantage when the BBC quotes Ireland as the example to follow in legislation.

We had a good debate last week on the annual report of the Office of Tobacco Control. I read today, however, that the proposed ban on the sale of packets of ten cigarettes will not go ahead as planned. This is a measure that has been mooted for many months, if not years, and the necessary legislation was passed some time ago. It seems, however, that the tobacco industry has said it cannot implement this measure because too many packets of ten have been already manufactured — "logistics" was the word it used.

This is wrong. We are engaged in a battle against cancer and part of this is discouraging young people from smoking. It is they who smoke packets of ten. There is a hard core of smokers but it comprises only 24% of the population. The main concern is that young people and women are smoking more. Part of the battle to prevent young people from starting to smoke involves a ban on packets of ten. Although this measure was due to be introduced yesterday, the tobacco industry was not ready and it could not be implemented. Will the Leader seek to discover whether the implementation of legislation can be hindered by means of the producer in question claiming it is not ready for it?