asked the Minister for Health whether he has seen the report of 23rd May, 1962, that the rate of consumption of tobacco had begun to increase again since the Royal College of Physicians report; and if in the circumstances he is satisfied that his efforts to educate the public about the relationship between lung cancer and cigarette-smoking are effective.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lung Cancer and Cigarette Smoking.
6.
The report referred to by the Deputy seems to relate to consumption outside the State. I have seen fuller reports of the statement made by the Chairman of the firm concerned which make it clear that the information which he gave on the recent trend in smoking was very tentative, and that it was premature to give a more definite picture.
As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to what I have stated earlier in replies to Parliamentary Questions on 7th, 14th and 21st of March last and in introducing the Estimate for my Department in the House on the 10th of April.
Does the Minister not think it desirable that he should now launch a campaign against cigarette smoking and ask the county medical officer of health in each county to do likewise?
I cannot do a thing three times over. We have launched this campaign and it is being continued. What is the use of my getting into the newspapers when we have in every school in the country a continuing campaign against cigarette smoking?
But it is not effective.
But I cannot ensure its effectiveness.
Oh, yes; the Minister can. The Minister is Minister for Health.
Those who are dying of cancer are adults. They do not go to school. The people who should stop smoking are the adults and they are not getting any propaganda.
They are not in school.
The Deputy indicates in his question that there is very effective propaganda being conducted in regard to these people. The report of the College of Physicians caused a very considerable decrease in the consumption of tobacco. There has been, I think, a very tentative suggestion by the chairman of a tobacco company to his shareholders that the effect of that propaganda is now beginning to be nullified. I have no assurance that it is, in fact, being nullified.
Would the Minister not solicit the support and co-operation of Radio and Telefís Éireann in this matter?
If I wanted to prevent people from looking at Telefís Éireann, I should continue to preach to them, day in and day out, what they ought to do.
Telefís Éireann could do it without the assistance of the Minister's countenance.
That would make it less attractive.
What has the Minister for Finance to say about people giving up cigarettes? He wants plenty of cigarettes to be smoked.
That will be all the better for the undertakers. They will make all the more money.