Imelda Henry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall. I also welcome the Public Health (Tobacco Amendment) Bill. It is a serious statistic that half of the smoking population who continue to smoke for most of their lives will die of the addiction. We must reduce the number of people in this country who smoke. We spoke about young people but we must start with children. Believe it or not, nine and ten year old children in this country smoke.

Having graphic images on cigarette packages is a positive move which I hope will discourage children in particular from starting to smoke. Senator MacSharry spoke about it being fashionable to smoke. I know that as I have a teenage daughter. We must deal with the fact that as children reach the age of 14 or 15, they like to do what everyone else is doing. Statistics such as that to which I referred bring home the seriousness of the situation. Smoking affects one's quality of life and health and many people die from it.

Senator Moran mentioned how a picture tells a thousand words. Senators have said everything that needs to be said on this Bill. I welcome it and I hope there will be a positive reaction from the graphics on the cigarette packets.Hopefully the number of people in this country who smoke will have drastically reduced.

I thank all of Members who contributed to this debate. I listened very carefully and some important points were made. I also welcome cross-party support for this legislation and I welcome the general support for the approach taken by the Government and the health agencies to work together to reduce the incidence of smoking. Other members have referred to be ex-smokers and how they understand the difficulties involved. I am a next smoke but I am not often as long as Senator MacSharry. I am getting there as it is four years this summer.