Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Sensitivity is very high.

Chonaic mé an clár mar gheall ar an bhfear i mBostún agus tá díomá orm go bhfuil sé le chur ar ais go hÉireann. Beidh mé i mBostún i gcomhair an summer. Tá a fhios agam gur bhuail an Seanadóir leis an Mayor Walsh. It is disappointing that an Irish person has been deported and it is a source of concern. I will be in Boston during the summer and I hope to meet members of the Irish community dealing with the issue to which the Senator refers. I congratulate Deputy Cannon on his appointment as a Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for the diaspora and international development. I will be happy to invite him to the House.

I will be happy to accept Senator Swanick's amendment in respect of the Bill he proposes. I congratulate him on the work he is doing in respect of tobacco. He is working with all of us to make Ireland a tobacco-free society. There is a need for change in the way we vest funding in tobacco companies where there is a dividend. The Senator recognises the changes that have been made and, to be fair to the former Ministers, Senator Reilly and Deputy Noonan, they have worked to bring about that change. The Senator deserves credit in respect of the matter he raises. It is disappointing that he has not received the responses he, as a public representative and as a medical practitioner talking about the public health issue to which this relates, deserves. I am happy to accept the amendment.