Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I second the amendment for the reasons outlined by Senator Fitzgerald. She made a valid point on the need to ensure that public health is put centre stage in this respect. I cannot restate often enough the importance of preventing people from smoking in the first place. When I decided to start to smoke, I did so because of peer pressure. I and my colleagues were training together and it was considered cool to have a cigarette and a cup of coffee. That is a wrong reason to smoke but at the time that was what we were exposed to. It was considered cool to smoke. I now realise the huge public health cost of smoking on our health services. Mr. Michael O'Shea, the Irish Cancer Society and ASH have made very relevant contributions to this legislation. These amendments are excellent and their inclusion would strengthen the legislation for the reasons clearly outlined by Senator Fitzgerald.