State will fight tobacco companies, says Martin

THE State is to take on the tobacco giants in the courts to ensure tough new advertising bans stay in place, Health Minister Micheál Martin confirmed yesterday.

Tough laws banning the advertising and display of all tobacco products in stores on public health grounds came into effect earlier this year.

But three tobacco companies have legally challenged the constitutionality of the new laws on the grounds that they inhibit their rights to communicate information to smokers and compete in the Irish market.