Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I know. I mean in the workplace, in public arenas, at functions, etc. It was a great progressive act and it set a trend for Europe and for the world. It was mould-breaking. I acknowledge that. It would be ludicrous and ridiculously partisan not to do so. However, I also say that this is a further progression of that. The balance of good, any considerations around interference in people's lives, the difficulty of administration at times - some of those practical matters pale into insignificance when we think of what cigarette addiction does to individuals and to society, and there is a societal issue here. There is huge cost. Nobody for a moment is suggesting - and we want no misunderstanding - or would suggest that we do not treat the victims of addiction with various conditions arising from addiction, give them the best healthcare in the world and give them everything. There is, however, a societal issue here with stopping potential addiction because there is huge cost involved with the health service and a huge diminution of quality of life for these people and those around them. If a member of a family develops a nicotine addiction, the misery and the misfortune that visits the individual extends into the family, if only because of the cost of the cigarettes, the general health implications and the example to a younger generation. Children do as they see rather than as they are told. You cannot lecture children into a lifestyle you are not living yourself. It would not be difficult to find evidence to support that thesis. That is another consideration.

No matter how one looks at it - from the point of view of the individual and saving individuals, the well-being of society or the well-being of a whole cohort of young people - this is excellent and right and should be done. Any fears around it pale into insignificance. None of us in this room would have had the misfortune of visiting people in hospital. I have been in St. Luke's on many occasions visiting people who are the victims or who have the consequences of addiction to cigarette smoking, and it is no fault of theirs - any of them. I recall, for example, driving a former Member of this House to see his aunt out there. I remember her saying to us that if she could live her life again and give up cigarettes, she would do so. You hear it so often from smokers.

We, as legislators, can do something, and this is very welcome and should be done. I am completely in support of it. I am not unaware of the few difficulties that will be cited later. In my view, however, by a long shot, the greater good rests with passing the legislation.