James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Leas-Chathaoirleach knows how close this matter is to my heart. As I have said elsewhere, it is political, it is professional and it is personal.

I thank all the Senators for their very supportive views and comments this evening. I also thank and acknowledge the Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Heart Foundation, the Asthma Society of Ireland, the organisation dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ASH Ireland and many others for their support.

Let us remember why we are here this evening. Ireland has been to the fore, as others have said, with tobacco control measures. We can be proud that the measures we have introduced to date are working. There has been a decrease in the number of people smoking. In 1998 the percentage of people smoking was 33%, but the most recent figures we have indicate that 21.5% of Irish adults now smoke, and data on school-aged children also indicates a clear downward trend. However, we cannot be complacent. To achieve the target set out in Tobacco Free Ireland, a lot of work needs to be undertaken. This includes the ongoing development of educational initiatives, media campaigns and cessation services. It also includes further legislative initiatives such as the smoking in cars legislation, developed by Senators of this House, which I hope to initiate in the Dáil in the very near future.

It is important that we de-normalise smoking and educate parents as well. There is nothing more conflicting and confusing for a child than to learn in school, from a teacher he or she trusts, that cigarettes kill, only to get a contradictory message when he or she goes home and sees a parent or parents smoking.