Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Cancer Awareness: Statements

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus roimh ár n-aíonna ó Chumann Ailse na hÉireann. Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leo as an dea-obair a dhéanann siad gan staonadh do leas an phobail. Is léir go bhfuil ardmheas orthu agus ar an obair a dhéanann siad i measc an phobail. Is léir freisin go bhfuil na polaiteoirí anseo ag braith orthu le muid a choimeád ar an eolas maidir lena bhfuil le rá againn faoin ábhar seo agus muid ag iarraidh dul i ngleic le fadhb na hailse sa tír seo. In congratulating the Irish Cancer Society and other groups on the good work they do, I acknowledge we are very dependent on them for keeping the issue of cancer in the public eye and keeping politicians briefed on the issues they need to be underlining.

Today, as we all know, is not only Ash Wednesday but also national no smoking day, the day on which we should be speaking about cancer. The cancer statistics that have been rehearsed up to now are depressing. Twenty-nine per cent of the population smokes. We discussed at budget time the impact of adding an extra €1 to the price of cigarettes and heard the rebuttals, which focused on smuggling and such practices. Despite our best efforts, the absolute focus needed from the Government to nail the problem of smoking is not evident.

It is particularly depressing to see younger people falling for the habit of smoking. This raises all sorts of questions about the quality of our culture and family life. It has always been the case that younger people wanted to try things out but we have never been more educated or conscious of the dangers. It is remarkable, therefore, to see recurring issues of human folly, such as young people falling for smoking, perhaps under the bad influence of family and peers and, to make matters worse, to see parents taking their children to sunbeds in advance of their Confirmation or Holy Communion.

I heard Senator Feeney's little plug for the fake tan industry but I would like to believe we could be even more ambitious and have a culture that is less superficial and tries to promote the idea that true beauty does not depend on the colour of one's skin or what one is wearing on it.

A serious issue arises as to how law and culture intersect. It is absolutely right to talk about the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act. The enabling legislation for pictorial warnings was introduced but the Department does not appear to have a timeline for the development of the regulations or the implementation of any of the guidelines. I would support any such measures. They work to an extent but it is a bit like putting up the price of cigarettes in that, on their own, inhibiting measures do not work unless there is the necessary cultural transformation.

ASH Ireland referred to the need to ban smoking in cars. I am not sure how I feel about that. While I support legislation up to a point, I believe there is a danger that we would try to achieve with law what can only really be achieved by changing the culture. Bearing in mind the privacy of family life – perhaps the family home extends into the family car – I would like to believe parents would not be smoking and that there would be very clear cultural messaging that good parenting involves trying not to smoke in the presence of one's children and trying not to do anything that would encourage children to take up the habit or imitate their parents in this regard.

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