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.

WE’VE heard the warnings and we know the dangers. Smoking most definitely kills. 

Health campaigners and politicians have condemned attempts by German MEPs and business groups to force Ireland to scrap plans outlawing logos and branding on tobacco products.

Conall Ó Fátharta says other states have been quick to regulate e-cigarettes.

People who smoke 20 cigarettes a day are racking up bills of more than €200,000 over the course of their life, while “social smokers” are tripling the risk of heart failure without even realising it.

Teenagers would be put off trying smoking for the first time if tobacco was sold in plain packets, health campaigners have said.

THE number of 10 to 17-year-olds currently smoking fell from 18% to 12% from 2002 to 2010, according to the 2010 Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey.

As director of a popular cold turkey quit smoking site, I shook my head after reading “Nicotine patches cost too much, says lobby group” (News, Feb 13).

Anti-smoking group Ash Ireland says it is extremely worried the high cost of nicotine replacement therapy could be discouraging people from quitting.

Anti-smoking lobby Ash Ireland welcomed moves to ban smoking in cars carrying children — seven years after it first called for it to be outlawed.

NEW year or not, a health overhaul is not easy. Yet, as with many things in life, technology has made the slog easier. Thanks to smartphone apps, support is just a tap away. For people who are time poor and living life at breakneck speed (that’ll be most of us), turning your smartphone into your personal trainer, nutritionist, or life coach seems common sense. 

Off-licences across the country were reporting brisk trade last night as shoppers flocked to buy wine before the price shot up from midnight.

An anti-smoking group is calling for a 60c increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes in December's budget.

The Government should consider taking a legal case against big tobacco companies for the health costs their industry is knowingly causing the State.

Anti-smoking group ASH Ireland has welcomed news that an outright ban on smoking in cars could be on the cards here.

Ash Ireland is seeking an increase of €1 on a packet of 20 cigarettes in the budget.

Concert promoters MCD have been reported to a health chiefs over the alleged promotion of cigarettes at a music event, it emerged today.

The Government was today urged to roll out more support services to help smokers kick their addiction as research revealed 90% of people would find it tough to quit.

NINE out of 10 smokers believe they are addicted or would find it hard to quit and those who tried to stop made around four failed attempts, research shows.

The Irish Cancer Society has described today's ruling from the European Court of Justice that could lead to cheaper cigarette prices here as "bad news".

Youngsters are being used as mules by tobacco-smuggling gangs to go door-to-door delivering packets of cheap cigarettes in housing estates, it was claimed tonight.

Anti-smoking campaigners today appealed to legislators to save children from the risks of passive smoking in cars.

A HIGH COURT challenge against the law prohibiting the display of cigarettes in shops has been described by ASH Ireland as ridiculous.

A complete ban on tobacco advertising in shops comes into force tomorrow.

FEAR of encouraging illegal trading in cigarettes should not deter the Government from taxing tobacco in next month’s emergency budget, pro-health and anti-tobacco groups have urged.

Health groups say the Government should be discouraged from increasing tobacco taxes due to the growth in illegal cigarette smuggling in recent years.

The Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation have joined forces to seek a €2 increase in the price of cigarettes in the forthcoming emergency budget.

Smoking should be banned in all vehicles carrying children, cross-party politicians were told today.

Teenagers who smoke believe they are not healthy but persist with their habit because they think it’s “cool”, research published today reveals.

AN anti-smoking lobby group will continue to lobby for smoking to be banned in cars to protect children, despite failing to persuade the Government to introduce the prohibition.

INCREASED smuggling south of the border and heightened shopping in the north has been predicted in the wake of the budgetary increases on cigarettes and wine.

DESPITE the introduction of the smoking ban nearly three years ago, smoking levels have increased in this country, according to a national study of Irish health and lifestyles.

A report on the smoking habits of Polish people living in Ireland will be launched today.

IRELAND has taken the lead in protecting non-smokers from tobacco smoke pollution, a European Commission-funded report has said.

THE anti-smoking lobby is on a collision course with trade unions and the country’s statisticians over proposals to reform the way cigarette price rises are measured.

The issue of removing cigarettes and tobacco from the index used to measure inflation is due to be discussed at a conference organised by anti-smoking lobbyists in Dublin today.

IT will be illegal to sell cigarettes in packs of 10 from midnight tomorrow.

The Government is again being criticised by anti-smoking groups.

ANTI-SMOKING groups have criticised the increase of 50c on a packet of 20 cigarettes as a missed opportunity and a “complete failure by this Government to protect the health of our population”.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigners last night called for €2 extra to be put on a packet of 20 cigarettes to stub out the rising numbers of smokers.

The tobacco industry in Ireland has been asked to come clean on whether or not nicotine levels have been increased in cigarettes on sale in Ireland.

IRISH people are buying more cigarettes, despite the country having the toughest anti-smoking measures in Europe, it emerged yesterday.

Anti-tobacco campaigners hailed the success of the workplace smoking ban today on its second anniversary.

Children are still being exposed to major health risks by adults continuing to smoke tobacco in homes and cars, a new survey revealed today.