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

I thank Senators for their amendments and particularly the spirit in which they have been submitted. I utterly accept what is being attempted here. While one cannot make the product safer, one can certainly provide more advice concerning its use. Any doctor prescribing, and any patient using, medication will be well used to the fact that there is an insert with the tablets that they can read. However, I would like to point out a few things about this matter. Each pack will have a general warning which will state either "Smoking kills. Quit now" or, simply, "Smoking kills". In addition, each pack should carry an information message stating "Tobacco smoke contains over 70 substances known to cause cancer".

As Senators are aware, a pictorial or combined warning will also cover 65% of the front and back of cigarette packets. These are simple but effective methods of visibly getting the message across to smokers and non-smokers alike. The inclusion of additional information on a sheet may not, in my view, be as effective in achieving the same. Indeed, it is likely that the consumer may open the pack - let us call a spade a spade - and discard the sheet immediately on the side of the street. This would add to the litter caused by cigarette packs, which astonishingly enough represents 53% of all litter. Furthermore, the smoker would quickly become desensitised or immune to a long list of ingredients and additives.

I acknowledge that in drafting these amendments, the Senator's aim is to make information about the toxic ingredients contained in cigarettes and other tobacco products available to the public. The tobacco products directive will make it mandatory for manufacturers of tobacco products to submit a list of ingredients contained in their products. This list, and details of the remission levels, are to be submitted to a State authority. The list is to be accompanied with information as to why these ingredients were included. Toxicological data regarding the ingredients are also to be submitted, referring in particular to their effects on the health of consumers. Member states are then obliged to make this information available to the public on a website.

The new proposed warnings and the mandatory obligations regarding reporting ingredients, are important initiatives in educating the public about tobacco. These, together with school-based education programmes and social marketing campaigns, will educate our young people in particular about the harmful effects of tobacco.

I cannot accept the amendments at the moment. It is not that I do not agree with the principle involved, but I am concerned that we may run into trouble concerning the whole issue of the legal challenges and the proportionality issue. Rather than rejecting the amendments out of hand, if Senators are prepared to withdraw them, and having had further time to investigate them, I will address them again in the Dáil, if that is agreeable. I cannot accept them at the moment, however, as I believe it might cause problems for us. I would be grateful if Senator Crown could withdraw the amendment, in which case I will give an undertaking to address this matter comprehensively during the Bill's passage through the Dáil Chamber.