A more emphatic way of highlighting the danger posed by cigarette smoking is under consideration, members heard.
Responding to calls for strong measures to combat smoking, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, said a number of concerns would be addressed in a tobacco Bill which would be brought before the Oireachtas in the autumn.
"For example, we are looking at providing that 60 per cent of the cigarette packet will show the effects of tobacco on the person.
"We are looking at the availability of cigarettes in retail units and the degree to which they are advertised in retail units."
When children went into shops to buy sweets, they saw packets of cigarettes adjacent to the sweets. We must change the existing climate to one of intolerance of cigarettes in society, added Mr Martin.
The Minister was speaking in the debate on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which, among other things, raises from 16 to 18 years the age at which tobacco can be bought. It also increases the maximum fine for breaches of the law from £500 to £1,500.
Mr Martin said the proposed legislation was an interim measure.
Ms Mary Jackman (FG) complained that a fine of £1,500 "is nothing nowadays to a lot of people". There must be a harsher and implementable deterrent.
Fine Gael colleague Ms Avril Doyle MEP argued that this State should be following the Canadian model of graphic health warnings, rather than using slogans such as "Smokers Die Earlier".
Displayed images of the lungs of smokers compared with those of non-smokers could have a far greater impact, she believed.
Ms Doyle said it was incongruous that if one was a heroin or an alcohol addict the State would provide rehabilitative assistance, but there was no help for anyone hooked on nicotine.
She could not understand why nicotine replacement therapy was available only on prescription.
Mr Brendan Ryan (Lab) said it was time committees of the House stopped meeting tobacco lobbyists. "We should say that we know what they are doing is wrong.
"We do not invite the Fellonis or the Meehans to tell us about the drugs problem, because we know what they are doing to society."
Managers of investment portfolios should be encouraged, through taxation or other provisions, not to invest in the tobacco industry, added Mr Ryan.
The selling of cigarettes should be stopped because it was uncontrollable.
Cigarettes should be sold only in off-licences in the same way that the sale of alcohol was restricted to a limited number of premises.
Dr Mary Henry (Ind) urged that the health problems associated with smoking be brought home as far as possible. She said numerous smokers have had to have limbs amputated.
Mr Martin said: "The tobacco industry is one of the most resourceful industries in the world. We are facing a very tough opponent here."