Feargal Quinn (Independent)

There is bad news for smokers who are football fans because I note that Ukraine is going to introduce a ban on smoking. I mention that because we introduced the smoking ban ten years ago and were the first to do so. I was struck by figures which were published last week and shown to me during this week which highlight that the percentage of the population who smoke has decreased dramatically from the percentage who smoked 50 years ago. This came to mind on foot of the points made by Senators Conway, Mullen and Crown on the power of the lobbyists. When I was in County Waterford some time ago I went to pub which displayed advertisements for tobacco and cigarettes, one of which, dating back to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, was to smoke Craven "A" as it was good for one's throat. I was reminded of the power of lobbying that managed to achieve and convince the public that smoking was good for one. We have managed to get beyond that and I am delighted, as Senator Crown has told me, that the percentage of the population who now smoke has fallen to 28% compared with approximately 70% 50 years ago.