Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and welcome his statement on plain packaging. We gave him credit for announcing it here in the House and I am delighted he announced it in even stronger terms today. I will not press subsection (e) of the amendment. I also welcome the Minister's comments on what he called the "denormalisation" of smoking by reducing the number of retail outlets. What I had in my own notes was that we need to "de-escalate" smoking, so it would be available in fewer and fewer places until, eventually, it is eliminated. I thank the Minister for his response to both of the points. I assure him of my continued support. In the very welcome light of what he said, I will not press the amendment. We know we are on the same side in this, and any time he comes to the House, I will certainly be supporting any measures. I thank him for his presentation today.