asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent publication of the Irish Medical Journal in which an alarming increase in the use of tobacco by juveniles in Cork city is disclosed; and if he will take any steps to publicise the dangers to health involved in smoking by juveniles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smoking by Juveniles.
4.
I have seen the report in the November issue of the Journal of the Irish Medical Association on a survey of the smoking habits of children in Cork city. The report indicates the numbers of cigarettes smoked by boys and girls between 11 and 14 years of age in April and May, 1962. It contains no figures to show that there was an increase in smoking among Cork juveniles.
As to the publicising of the dangers to health, I would draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to a question by Deputy Barron on the 7th instant. In this connection, the Cork survey to which the Deputy refers shows that over 90 per cent of the children questioned were aware of the connection between smoking and bad health and over 75 per cent knew that smoking was connected with the incidence of lung cancer. This seems to indicate that the measures taken to publicise the danger to health of cigarette smoking are effective.
In his reply to the question by Deputy Barron to which he has referred, the Minister indicated that leaflets are distributed to those whom he described as of school-leaving age, pointing out the dangers of smoking. Would the Minister say what is the age group?
Everybody of the age at which they leave school.
Does that include schoolchildren from the age of seven up to 14?
Children do not leave school until they are 14 and I assume those responsible for the care of the children referred to in the supplementary question take care to impress upon them the dangers of smoking.
Is the Minister satisfied that the danger of smoking is impressed on children between the ages of seven and 14?
I assume it is. I am not going to believe that parents and teachers are so negligent of the children under their care that they will not impress upon them the dangers to which he is referring.
I am merely asking if the danger to which the Minister has referred is impressed upon the children at school?
I have answered that question three times and if the answer has not yet dawned on the Deputy, it is not my fault.
Do not be acting Father William.
I share Deputy Dillon's views about paternalism in Government.