asked the Minister for Health what was the attitude taken by the Irish representative at the World Health Organisation on the proposal of the organisation for the control of cigarette smoking in the countries comprising this organisation; what proposals were made; and what action, if any, it is proposed to take in the Republic to bring about a reduction in the use of cigarettes now known to lead to lung cancer, cardiac disease and bronchitis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cigarette Smoking Controls.
5.
I take it that the Deputy's question relates to the resolution which was adopted by the 23rd World Health Assembly on the 19th instant and which reads as follows:—
The 23rd World Health Assembly resolves that (1) all those present at meetings of the Assembly and its committees be requested to refrain from smoking in the rooms where such meetings are held; that (2) the Director-General be requested:
(a) to consider the desirability of making the subject for World Health Day "The Health Consequences of Smoking" on the earliest possible occasion;
(b) to call the attention of all Members and Associate Members to the report on limitation of smoking and to suggest that the advantages of applying the recommendations on pages 19 and 20 of that report should be considered in all countries;
(c) to consider convening an expert group to recommend further action that might be taken to discourage smoking;
(d) to examine to what extent and by what educational methods young people might be persuaded not to begin smoking;
(e) to bring to the attention of FAO the need for studying crop substitution in tobacco-producing countries;
(f) to report to the Executive Board at its forty-seventh session and to the Twenty-fourth World Health Assembly on the action proposed and the financial consequences for the organisation.
This resolution was supported by the Irish delegation. As the Deputy will appreciate, the resolution, in the main, relates to further action by the Director-General of WHO and arises, in fact, from a report submitted by him to the Assembly. So far as member states are concerned the resolution draws their attention to the recommendations made by the Director-General in the report.
These recommendations, ten in number, are rather lengthy and with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I shall place a copy of them in the Library for the information of Deputies.
I am at present considering widening the scope of the anti-cigarette smoking campaign operated by my Department which, as I have said previously, is essentially educational in character and aimed primarily at the young and I will certainly have these recommendations studied carefully by my Department. I should, perhaps, straight-away say that I have already very seriously considered the question of the warning notice on cigarette packets and I do not see myself readily departing from the view I have already expressed to the House that it is an essentially futile gesture.
Would the Minister not agree that the fact that the surgeon general in America has seriously considered the question of the warning notices on cigarettes tends to refute his suggestion that it is a futile gesture? Furthermore, is it not a fact that the consumption of cigarettes in America has tended to drop since its introduction?
I am not aware what the consumption of cigarettes is in America. I have been in consultation with a number of people, including leading psychiatrists, on this matter and I am going to examine the recommendations of WHO. I am convinced that our efforts should be directed to TV and educational campaigns to young people. I honestly believe that cigarette smoking must be arrested at a young age. I do not think the propaganda to persuade adults to stop smoking has succeeded. Taking it by and large people are fully aware of the dangers of smoking. I am quite ready to revise my opinion on that after further study and I am going to consult everybody who can give me useful advice on it. The Minister for Finance has allotted me an extra sum this year over and above that made available last year for education in respect of the younger generation. I feel we should concentrate our efforts there.
Has the Minister for Health consulted psychiatrists about the advantages which accrue from serious smoking? Is it not correct that many people benefit from cigarette smoking? I am saying this as a non serious smoker. Is it not true that people derive certain benefits from cigarette smoking in that it soothes their nerves, or helps in some other way, and is there not a credit side as well as a debit side?
It would be rather difficult to go into an elaborate discussion on this now, but the Deputy is correct inasmuch as I have not yet met a psychiatrist who has not said that, if we were to abolish cigarette smoking entirely, many of those who smoke cigarettes would find some alternative drug which might be much worse. The danger of cigarette smoking, of course, varies with the number smoked each day.
Question No. 6.
Does the Minister not agree he has introduced the most stringent regulations concerning the use of drugs by adolescents? The Minister expects these young people to stop using drugs. Why is it that he does not expect the same compliance from adults if he asks them to comply with similar regulations?
It would be a matter of opinion and I imagine most Deputies would support the view that the end results of dangerous drug addiction are in many cases uncontrollable whereas, in the ordinary way, adults can control the number of cigarettes they consume. There is a very great difference between amphetamine and heroin absorption and cigarette smoking. I do not think there can be any doubt about that.