Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to deal with this Bill, which is good legislation. I hope he will use his powers under the regulations as he has suggested he will.

It is another step in the right direction towards ridding society of the scourge of tobacco. I agree this is only the beginning of the process. I am sure the tobacco companies will take this to the Four Courts to try to delay this legislation. They have heavily lobbied retail colleagues about the footfall they will lose. While I appreciate they may lose something, we all support this legislation and our retailers and will do so in other ways. Well done to the Minister. I hope the courts will not delay progress on the legislation for too long.