Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo what my colleagues have said and welcome the Minister. I was inadvertently working on his behalf as the tobacco lobbyists are about again and were asking for interviews. However, I will not let the Minister down in the cause. I just told them to send in whatever papers they have and I would read them. However, I do not wish to be lobbied by the tobacco industry. I think we are ad idemon all of that. As my colleagues have said, I hope the Bill will proceed quickly because the original objective two years ago was to protect children going on holidays in cars and that they would not experience tobacco smoke.
As a non-lawyer, I thought we were splitting hairs in substituting the amendments for what was in the Bill but if it all works out well at the end, I will join with my colleagues in welcoming it. However, I could not see the point in some of the amendments to the original Bill.
We are all at one on this and I will support the Minister in his other moves on plain labelling and restrictions on the sale of tobacco. I share his goal of a tobacco-free society, and that includes in cars and in cars with children. There is also a road safety dimension.

I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill to the House and wish him every success in his continuing efforts to create a smoke-free society. He knows more than anyone else the damage smoking does to people's health and the health service.