David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I regret I was not here for the earlier part of the discussion because I was involved in the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade where we had an equally significant discussion. I am happy to have this opportunity to support my colleague. I understand he is not pressing either of these two amendments, largely because the Minister and himself are ad idem on these matters. The Minister has been very strong in this regard. I imagine he must be a little disconcerted but I do not expect him to comment when he discovered that senior Ministers, including the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, had a meeting with the leaders of the tobacco industry.

That certainly caused much concern. These people are involved in a trade which is extraordinarily devious and they should find it as difficult as possible. The Taoiseach is a wily west of Ireland man but one needs to be twice as wily as anybody from this island to deal with that shower and they have certainly shown it as anybody who looks at the history of the tobacco industry in the United States of America will see. I speak as somebody who most of the time does not smoke but who was heavily addicted at a very young age because of the blandishments of these awful people, including the Marlboro man and all these very glamorous figures who subsequently died of lung cancer which put an end to their glamour. I commend Senator Barrett on his sterling projection of these ideas. He is a tremendous advantage to Seanad Éireann and, certainly as a colleague, I value him very much. I regret Senator Crown is not here but I understand he is in America at an oncology conference.

The situation in regard to the hospitals is idiotic. People being treated for disease are not only smoking outside hospitals but they are going to local pubs in their pyjamas even though they are taking antibiotics. This is countering the effect of the antibiotics. Something should be done about that.

It may appear absurd to try to restrict smoking in cars but as a former smoker - I like to think I am mainly a former smoker - I have dropped the lighted top of a cigarette. If it lands on one's crotch when one is driving at 60 mph, it certainly does not improve one's driving skills. The same applies to even lighting a cigarette. These things can be lethal. Smoking is as bad as, or is perhaps even more dangerous, than using a mobile telephone while driving.

I agree with Senator Barrett in regard to looking for a non-smoker discount but I am not sure how it could be policed. People are the most awful liars or, as we say now, they are in denial, which just means they are liars. They will lie like hell to get a reduced premium. How can one tell whether they smoke? Does one smell their breath to see if they have been smoking? Perhaps there is a blood test or perhaps people could breathe into something on the way back from Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann. This could be problematic. I am not sure how this could be policed even though it is an excellent idea. I compliment the Minister on the introduction of the legislation.