Charities criticise bid to stop law on plain tobacco packs

Health charities have reacted angrily to attempts by German business groups and MEPs to derail Ireland’s planned ban on branded tobacco products.

The Asthma Society of Ireland yesterday said that “children’s health is more important than tobacco profits,” following a series of lobbying letters published in the Irish Examiner.

The letters show 27 MEPs, as well as German business groups, lobbied the Taoiseach and the State to drop plain packaging tobacco plans.

The Government were warned the plans would pose a “threat” to Ireland’s finances due to increased tobacco smuggling and less taxes.

The Asthma Society said it was “dismayed” to learn that German advertising and branding groups had put pressure on the Government to abandon the plans to introduce plain tobacco packaging.

The society’s advocacy manager Niamh Kelly added: “The pressure being applied on our Government by some MEPs to reverse its decision on plain tobacco packaging, and threats to our economy being outlined by German marketing organisations, are evidence that this anticipated, offensive campaign by ‘big tobacco’ is under way.”

Fine Gael senator Catherine Noone dismissed claims by German politicians and lobby groups that the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes would somehow damage the Irish economic recovery.

“Plain packaging in Australia has not been shown to have damaged the Australian economy.

“I actually believe that plain packaging could lead to a decrease in illicit tobacco trade, if we embedded the right security features in the packaging.”

Revenue say that taxes amounting to nearly €1.4bn were collected from tobacco sales here in 2012.

But they and the gardaí have dismissed claims plain packaging could boost the illicit trade in tobacco.

Health campaigners claim savings from smoking-related illnesses, which cost upwards of €2bn a year, would outweigh any tax losses.

Ms Noone, a practicing solicitor, said that Ireland’s new laws would be followed by other EU states.

“Clearly, the tobacco industry and their lobbyists are shaking in their boots as they realise that this is about to happen, and will damage their business.

“This measure will have a positive impact and, as with our introduction of the smoking ban, other European countries will sit up, take notice, and wonder when they should begin implementing it themselves.”

Independent senator Jillian van Turnhout said the lobbying revealed the extent to which the tobacco industry was “insidious.”

The children’s rights activist said she was not surprised that the lobbying against Ireland’s plans was being “ramped up.”

“They [the industry] are afraid as it works and we are the gateway to Europe.”

Enda Kenny’s spokesman said: “Government policy in relation to smoking is to promote and subsequently move toward a tobacco-free society. Standardised packaging is one of a number of measures which will be implemented in order to reduce smoking in our society.

“Education and awareness, cessation services and extending the smoking ban to other areas are some of the other measures which are being progressed.”