Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion.

It is important to recognise that our country has an extraordinary record of leadership when it comes to tobacco control. A previous Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, introduced the smoking ban. When Senator Reilly was Minister for Health, he introduced a suite of measures that transformed societal attitudes in terms of how we tolerated, viewed and used tobacco. In our country today, we would be aghast if someone in our company was to strike up a match and light a cigarette at a social gathering. This is not the nanny state interfering. It is not that we want to make it difficult for proprietors and owners of restaurants and bars. As Senator Reilly stated, it is about transforming the lives and health of our citizens.

We were the first to introduce the workplace smoking ban. We then tackled plain packaging. As Members of the Oireachtas in tandem with the Department of Health, and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and congratulate her on her tenure to date in the Department, we are trying to create a smoke-free Ireland. That means only 5% of our population smoking by 2025. To achieve that, we need leadership from politicians. The Minister of State has demonstrated bravery in her brief over the national drugs strategy and injection centres. As Minister, Senator Reilly stood up to big tobacco. To be fair, Deputy Micheál Martin did the same. I chaired the health committee while the Minister of State, then just a Deputy, was a member of it. We sat through the pre-legislative scrutiny phase of the plain packaging Bill.

This is about protecting people, including children, and denormalising tobacco. Our policy is working, given that the number of people engaged in smoking has declined.We still have a significant way to go but the number of people smoking has declined. Part of our difficulty is that there is a still a sense of awe among some young people and hopefully plain packaging will eliminate some of that. The elimination of advertising is aimed at reducing the visibility of cigarettes and reducing the harmful effects of smoking.

It has been demonstrated over time that pricing has had an impact. The other two issues are visibility and availability. We must lessen the appeal of smoking. Cigarettes are a risk to health. As Senator O'Reilly said, 78% of smokers started smoking before turning 18. We must decrease the appeal of smoking to young people. Our public health policy must be about decreasing the appeal, de-normalisation and ensuring a smoke-free environment for all.

It is estimated that between 19% and 22% of our population still smokes, which is a considerable number of people. If we are to get to 5% by 2025, we need to take measures over and above those we have already taken and that is what the motion before us tonight aims to do. Approximately 5,000 people die every year from tobacco related illnesses and diseases. So many lives are lost and so many families are bereaved because of smoking. In terms of economics, the effects of tobacco and smoking cost the State approximately €300 million per year.

Some Members have expressed concern about what this motion is trying to achieve. We are not trying to put people out of business or to stop people enjoying themselves. We are trying to ensure that our public health policy includes a strong suite of proposals and measures that will tackle the issue for once and for all. Senator Reilly referenced obesity too but this is not just about economics, bed nights or the cost to the State; it is also about saving lives. It is about ensuring a societal change in the way we view our relationship with tobacco. I commend the work of former Senators van Turnhout and Crown who submitted motions and Bills previously to prohibit smoking in cars and in playgrounds. Why is it that we all now find it abhorrent to have people smoking in our company, in our houses or our cars? Why is it now the case that people ask others if it is okay for them to smoke and if the answer is "No", they go outside? It is because we have changed our attitude. Those of us who are of a certain age will remember the Marlboro man and the advertisements associated with him but it is no longer cool to smoke. We should make that very clear to the young people who are being targeted by the tobacco companies in a variety of ways.

As legislators, we have a duty of care. We cannot be negligent or passive but must work to bring about a healthier Ireland. We service our cars, our washing machines and our boilers. We install radon meters and smoke alarms in our houses. There is a clarion call for us as a people to recognise that smoking kills. If one talks to people who have COPD or other respiratory illnesses as a consequence of smoking, they will say that they wish they could turn the clock back.

The motion before the House tonight is sensible and will add to the suite of measures that is already in place. I thank Senator Reilly for his leadership and hope that the House will support the motion.