Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Section 3 refers to the transfer of functions and provides for the preparation and implementation of the plan for the national co-ordination of the activities of the Office of Tobacco Control and the HSE in respect of the Bill. It provides that the office shall establish a body, to be known as the Tobacco Free Council, which was never established by it. Its role was to be available to the office for consultation. Having regard to the fact that the Office of Tobacco Control is to be merged with the HSE and in the broader context of greater streamlining of structures, the proposed role of the Tobacco Free Council can be incorporated in an advisory panel and may be established now.

Section 15 of the Health Act 2004 provides for the HSE board to establish committees to assist in the performance of its functions. Section 44 of the Act provides that the Minister may direct the executive to establish an advisory panel for a specific purpose. Between the Department of Health and Children, the Office of Tobacco Control and the HSE, there has been a high level steering group established to oversee the merger. Three staff of the Office of Tobacco Control and a sum of €1.5 million will be transferred to the HSE. All of the core functions will be transferred.

The question of a price increase mentioned by Senator Fitzgerald is a matter for the Department of Finance. As Minister of State with responsibility for health promotion, I was lobbied by ASH Ireland and the Irish Cancer Society and passed on their representations. At a recent press conference the Minister for Health and Children referred to research on price which was passed on to the Minister for Finance.