John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on bringing forward this legislation. I point to the fact that younger people who do not smoke are more likely to continue in sport and in other life-affirming activities. An added benefit that we have not noted is that young people who do not smoke are less likely to consume other products, such as cannabis or other drugs, because of the inhaling motion required and the reflex needed that people who smoke cigarettes can get used to. We know the difficulties to which that leads. Not only is there a direct benefit to health in the most obvious way, there is also a huge knock-on benefit to the public good in what the Minister is doing.