Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

In light of the fact that statistics show there has been an increase in the number of people smoking, that lung cancer is the biggest killer in Ireland, with 1,600 people dying from it each year and that 7,000 people are dying in Ireland each year from smoking-related illnesses, I welcome that the tobacco control legislation will be before the House next week. It is a response to issues in this regard that were raised on the Order of Business on many occasions. I draw the attention of the Leader to the Irish Cancer Society's concern that the penalties that will apply to minors for such offences will be diluted. We should be au fait with the fact that minors have to be enticed to smoke to replace the 15 or 20 people who die every day in Ireland from smoking-related illnesses to ensure the smoking industry continues.

I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce stronger penalties for those who are caught importing contraband cigarettes. Whatever about dealing with the retailers who are legitimately selling cigarettes to people over the age of 18, and they should be deterred from selling to those under 18 in the strongest possible manner, contraband cigarettes are being imported and very light penalties apply. A recent television programme showed that a person who had imported approximately 200,000 contraband cigarettes was fined in the region of €26 and the maximum penalty imposed on any of the offenders was €200. The penalties must fit the crime. If we are serious about not only addressing cancer but also gangland crime, we must to tackle the illegal importation of cigarettes and alcohol. I would like to think that early in the new Seanad year - I was going to say academic year - we would address the issue of alcohol abuse.