Rónán Mullen (Independent)

At this time of year, many people are trying to give up smoking. I recently received a letter from ASH Ireland, as I am sure did others. It is campaigning for the Government to introduce a ban on smoking in cars in which children under 16 years of age are transported. Given the time of year and the important public health nature of the issue, it would be timely for the House to debate the issue. I am not a fan of excessive regulation but when it comes to protecting people's health, there are many dimensions to it. There is the stress on our health services and the responsibility of adults to people under age.

On the remarks by my esteemed colleague, Senator Norris, on the Dr. Lydia Foy case, we have not had a sufficient discussion on the importance of our Constitution. We debated it recently in the House but with the Lisbon treaty being debated soon, we need to move urgently to debating the fundamental question of who decides Irish law on fundamental matters. Even when aspects of our law may displease certain people, the fact is our Constitution allows us to determine fundamental issues for ourselves. I am concerned we will end up having a referendum on the Lisbon treaty which may be about all manner of issues but will fail to bring before the Irish people the essential question of whether it is they or someone else who decides our fundamental constitutional values touching on human rights and dignity.