There is a significant amount of research and evidence available nationally and internationally regarding the health effects of smoking on smokers and those around them. As such the harms caused by smoking are well established and my Department has not commissioned any research in this area in the years referred to by the Deputy. In relation to the heath expenditure on campaigns to encourage and assist people to stop smoking, I understand from the HSE that in respect of their QUIT social marketing campaign that €850,000 was spent in 2012 and €1.07m in 2013. The costs associated with the campaign in 2014 have not yet been finalised.
In addition to this there are other existing measures aimed at warning people about the harms of tobacco and encouraging smokers to quit the habit. In 2012 I developed regulations for the introduction of graphic warnings on cigarette packs which came into effect in 2013. Research and experience in other countries has shown that health warnings combined with coloured photographs can be an effective means of discouraging smoking and informing people about the health risks related to smoking. In relation to educating children and young people about the harms of smoking, the Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum incorporates a smoking component. For those who seek support, smoking cessation services are provided nationally by the HSE, the National Smokers' QUIT-line provides telephone support together with the QUIT website and QUIT Facebook page and nicotine replacement therapies are available free of charge on GMS prescriptions.
