Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Over recent months, I have held a series of public forums on issues of great relevance to our communities. The first was how on how we should respond to the suicide crisis, the second was on activating and social networking and the third was on threats to women's health today, in particular alcohol and smoking.

I wish to say, without preaching, that this is a time when people are inclined to over indulge in alcohol and smoking. It is no harm reminding ourselves to be less indulgent. We are leaders in society so we should advise the people around us, and not to be puritanical about it, to be less indulgent.

I wish to put the following matter formally on the record. Senator John Crown is a professor oncologist at St. Vincent's Hospital. He has said that the complete eradication of smoking and a sharp reduction in levels of alcohol consumption are critical in Ireland. He also said that smoking is by far the leading preventable cause of illness in Ireland, that there is nothing redeeming about it and that there is no safe level. Also, that it contributes to cancer of the mouth, throat, head, neck, lung, pancreas and stomach. In addition, it damages the arteries, causes circulatory problems, heart attacks and strokes. Senator Crown also argued that the physical and social health of Irish people would be greatly improved if they only drank less. Plus, reducing drinking would lead to a decrease in the levels of liver disease and many forms of cancer, as well as, very importantly, a decrease in domestic violence, rape and teen pregnancy.

The esteemed chief executive of Alcohol Action Ireland, and former chief executive of the Samaritans, Suzanne Costello, raised the following matter which I have raised here before. She discussed the huge increase in the number of young women drinking in Ireland. It is no longer a taboo in Ireland for women to go into pubs and drinking.