Cabinet urged to keep plain packaging plans

Ten leading health campaign groups representing doctors and people suffering from cancer, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions have written to Cabinet urging them not to scrap the plain packaging anti-smoking plans.

The letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, insists Children’s Minister Dr James Reilly is right to be pushing through the wide-reaching policy, insisting the measures are “absolutely justified and necessary”.

The two-page correspondence was sent to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and all members of Cabinet last night in response to claims from business groups the initiative will cost jobs and stall the economy.

It is signed by senior officials from the Irish Cancer Society, Irish Heart Foundation, Ash Ireland, the Children’s Rights Alliance, Barnardos, the Asthma Society of Ireland, the ISPCC, COPD Support Ireland, the Irish Thoracic Society and the Irish College of Opthalmologists.

The document was received by all members of Cabinet on the eve of today’s deadline put down by international tobacco conglomerate JTI Ireland for the coalition to bin the plans or face the prospect of a multi-million euro legal battle.

However, the health groups insisted the medical and societal benefits cannot be ignored. “We wish to assure you of our strong support for this vital piece of public health legislation, which can protect children’s health, the health of the general population and reduce future smoking rates,” the letter read.

The letter was sent in response to an attack by the tobacco industry against the proposed legislation in recent days, and separate pressure on Government by employment groups.

Last Friday, Ibec and the US Chamber of Commerce wrote to Taoiseach Enda Kenny warning the bill will “expose the Irish State to higher costs from compensation” and “potentially violate important aspects of Ireland’s international commitments”.

In the following days, cigarette manufacturer John Player sent correspondence to all TDs and senators citing a tobacco industry-backed study which concluded that plain packaging had done very little to reduce smoking levels in Australia.

And on Tuesday, JTI Ireland wrote to Cabinet warning it will sue the State if the bill was not scrapped by today.

Ignoring the mounting pressure – which the health groups’ letter as well as the Attorney General have all insisted is based on factual inaccuracies – the health committee passed the bill last Tuesday.

Plain packaging is now set to be introduced by May 2017.