Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 8

Written Answers. - Cigarette Smoking.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

80 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the population smoking cigarettes now compared to the years 1980, 1985 and 1990; the number of cigarettes smoked for each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

The following is the percentage of the adult population over 15 who were smoking in the years to which the Deputy refers.

Year	% of Adult Population Smoking Cigarettes
	%
1980	36
1985	35
1990	30
1992 (the last year for which such data is available.)	30

The data available to my Department on the number of cigarettes are based on figures supplied by the Revenue Commissioners on cigarettes retained for consumption in Ireland and do not necessarily represent the number of cigarettes smoked in any one year. The figures for the years in question are as follows:

Year	No. of Cigarettes
1980	7,472,000,000
1985	6,228,000,000
1990	5,799,934,000
1992	5,995,000,000

My Department's anti-smoking programme is our most important single dimensional prevention programme and its success is evidenced by the reduction in the percentage of the population smoking. However I consider that there is no room for complacency on this important health issue and so we are continuing our efforts to reduce the prevalance of smoking. The Deputy will be aware that earlier this year, I launched a major new "I'm One less" anti-smoking campaign, the first phase of which drew an unprecedented response from the public. To coincide with World Anti-Tobacco Day on 31 May 1993 I launched the second phase of this new campaign last Monday.