asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Irish Medical Association Journal that the proper control of hypertension and the elmination of cigarette smoking would cause a dramatic reduction in the incidence of precocious and middle aged coronary heart disease in women; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coronary Heart Disease.
189.
I have seen the statement referred to.
Regarding the proper control of hypertension, the essential requirement is that persons in middle age should consult their family doctors regularly, and it is in their own interest to do this.
The dangers to health associated with cigarette smoking have been widely publicised in recent years, and I am quite sure that the adult public are well aware of the position. In this matter I favour an educative approach rather than one of prohibition. I feel strongly that my functions are best discharged by continuing to inform the public of the dangers of smoking so that each person can decide, in the light of this knowledge, whether to smoke or not. Special efforts are being made, and will continue to be made, to encourage young people not to start smoking or, where they have started, to give it up.
Does it affect only women?
The question was about women.
Seriously, would the Minister not start a campaign to encourage pipe-smoking as against cigarette smoking?
Not by women, surely?
I can assure the Deputy that the best smokers in the Slieve Bloom Mountains some years ago were women with clay pipes.
I think the practical approach is to try to get at the young people and urge them not to smoke. For most of us who smoke and are adults or in middle age, it is very difficult to give it up; you put on a couple of stone——
I think teachers could do a great deal.
I hope that all Members of the House will join with me in urging young people not to start smoking.