TD calls for minister and HSE to 'get serious' about a total ban on smoking

Cork North Central TD Colm Burke pointed out that on top of death and disease, smoking comes at a high cost to families. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA

A generational smoking ban should be considered as the number of people giving up cigarettes has plateaued, with 13% of adults still smoking on a daily basis.

Today marks World No Tobacco Day, with concerns raised around the negative impact the habit has on smokers, their families and the health service.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke has called on his party colleague and health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the HSE to "get serious" about assessing the viability of introducing a generational smoking ban.

Smoking deaths and disease

“Smoking is a contributory factor in 5,000 deaths per annum and costs the health system around €450m each year in the treatment of chronic diseases associated with smoking; including cancers, chronic lung conditions and heart diseases," he said.

Smoking is expensive 

“There is another aspect of smoking which is often ignored. It has a hugely negative impact on personal and family incomes. A person who smokes 20 cigarettes a day will burn around €7,000 a year. 

"This money gone up in smoke seriously undermines family spending capacity and family wellbeing, particularly lower incomes families."

The Cork North-Central TD said that in order to meet a 5% reduction target, the HSE must roll out targets campaigns.

The HSE said it is supporting thousands of people across the country to QUIT for good though smoking cessation supports and free nicotine replacement therapy. 

One such person is Stephen Ahern from Whitegate, Cork who has recently celebrated the milestone of 52 weeks free of cigarettes.

On World No Tobacco Day, Stephen Ahern from Whitegate, East Cork, recently celebrated being 52 weeks free of cigarettes. Picture: HSE South West

Mr Ahern said: “I decided to quit as I have young kids now and I wanted to be around a bit longer. 

I started off with the patches and they really helped with the cravings. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support from QUIT. 

The best thing about quitting is that my health has improved and I have more money in my pocket.” 

'Call to arms' to tackle vaping

Meanwhile, member of the HSE South West Forum and Cork City councillor Peter Horgan has said that World No Tobacco Day needs to be a call to arms to attack the prevalence of vaping in society.

He called for stronger local and national action to address the growing use of nicotine products among young people, particularly vaping.

“Over the past number of years we’ve seen a massive change in how nicotine is being consumed. The concern is no longer just traditional cigarettes, but the speed at which vaping has become embedded in youth culture,” Mr Horgan said.

He added that stronger enforcement of age restrictions, tighter controls on retail displays, and dedicated public health funding are needed to prevent a new generation from becoming nicotine dependent.