Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second what Senator Crown has said. The medical argument against smoking is unassailable at this stage. All recent Ministers for Health have endorsed that. The amendment attaches a penalty to a health-damaging factor. It is easily verified as people on renewing their premium can show that they have not been smoking.

It tackles the moral hazard problem that if one does not smoke, one will save on tobacco and one will save on health insurance. As Senator John Crown said, the principles of open enrolment, life time cover and community rating stand but it is legitimate in the current economic climate that we nudge people towards conduct which will reduce demands on the health insurance company and reduce demands on the health service itself. There is much merit in Senator Crown's amendment and I am honoured to second it.