Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 7, line 27, to delete “20 May 2017” and substitute “20 July 2015”.

I echo other speakers in saying the Minister has my full support, and that of my party, in the context of his crusade against tobacco consumption and the need to reduce it substantially in this country. Some of the initial figures indicate that we are making slow but steady incremental progress and anything that can enhance that is welcome. Lest there be any doubt, I spoke in the Dáil on the matter on numerous occasions and I put on record the efforts of the Minister when he was Minister for Health, in the context of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Minister used the platform very effectively in trying to encourage the EU to take a lead in public health. I commend the Minister in that regard.

My amendments are designed to enhance the Bill and to assist in trying to ensure it is effective health policy and that it is also expeditious in trying to deal with tobacco consumption and the reduction of same. We are talking about a wash-out phase in the Bill whereby its introduction will be postponed until 20 May 2017. We are saying we should substitute the date with 20 July 2015. That is an indication of the urgency with which we view the matter that we should try to bring forward plain packaging and standardisation as quickly as possible to ensure we send out a very strong message to people that we are serious about confronting the nefarious, insidious tobacco industry and that we set a lead and an example. There might be good reason – the Minister can elaborate on that – but I would support the introduction of a blunt deadline in terms of the enactment of the legislation on 20 July 2015. That would give the industry adequate time to respond.

I do not refer to retailers who sell tobacco products in shops in this country, but the international tobacco industry is nefarious and threatening. It has tried, for example, to usurp the democratically elected representatives of Australia and its legislative process. While the industry has the right to protect its copyright through the courts, our duty must be to the people, in particular young people who might be contemplating experimenting with tobacco, and trying to discourage people from taking it up and to encourage people to give it up. That is the reason I have tabled the amendment. The Irish Cancer Society takes a strong line on the issue and it has been a strong proponent of the legislation and fully endorses what the Minister is trying to do. The purpose of the amendment is to strengthen the legislation.