Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

When the Office of Tobacco Control had a separate office, the key priority was its specific remit. It is critical that the remit of the office is retained despite the fact that the office will be integrated. What assurances can the Minister of State provide to the House that its remit will be retained? What priority is the issue receiving at the moment? We can see the work that has been done. This country has been a world leader in tobacco control. Where does the Minister of State envisage the strategy going in terms of outcome and research on the number of people who are smoking, especially given the prevalence of smoking among young women who are taking up smoking and who continue to smoke? What does the research indicate should be our focus? I have outlined a few areas that should be a priority. It would be helpful to the House if the Minister of State were to outline where the issue stands on her list of priorities and what action she intends taking or has taken. Where does tobacco control stand among the health promotion priorities in the country?