Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate Senator Fitzgerald's concern. The office is being subsumed into the Health Service Executive and she is afraid it will be lost. I have met staff of the Office of Tobacco Control on many occasions. They are very committed. The chairperson has now welcomed the move. Initially, there was concern along the lines expressed by Senator Fitzgerald, which I shared, that the office could be lost. The staff are happy and they have been assured of my full support in the continuance of their good work. The issue is a high priority for me. We will see success based on the initiatives that have been introduced. I feel strongly about the issue and I have used all possible opportunities to engage with younger people, rather than lecture them, on what they consider works well in terms of helping them not to start smoking in the first place and to give it up if they have started.