Sue tobacco firms over €1bn health costs to State, says MEP

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

Ireland East MEP Nessa Childers made the call on World No Tobacco Day yesterday and following a study which showed that Irish smokers took up the habit at a younger age than their EU counterparts.

Ms Childers hit out at tobacco companies, which she said were still “deliberately targeting teenagers”. She urged the Government to follow the example of many US states in the 1990s by taking legal action against the industry.

“It costs the Irish state €1bn per year to provide health services for smokers. These days, we simply can’t tolerate this any longer. The Government should consider taking a legal case against big tobacco companies for the health costs their industry is knowingly causing the Irish State.”

Meanwhile, anti-smoking group Ash Ireland has renewed its call to have smoking banned in cars transporting children under 16.

Chairman of the group, Dr Ross Morgan, said research showed 7% of Irish children were subjected to passive smoke when travelling in cars.

“We have submitted a paper to the [health] minister, which clearly outlines the most serious health issues that emerge for children who inhale environmental tobacco smoke in such an enclosed space. There is further definitive research available in Ireland, the USA, Canada, and Australia which shows that passive smoke is particularly harmful to children, as they have much higher respiratory rates and metabolism than adults.”

Health Minister James Reilly said he was committed to working to reduce the number of young people who take up smoking.

“I have recently declared my intention to seek to ban smoking in public such as beaches and parks in order to protect our children.

“I hope such a move will assist in the process of de-normalising smoking and will help prevent young people from taking up the habit in the first place. I have also supported Professor John Crown’s proposed legislation to ban smoking in cars where children are present.”

Currently, there is legislation banning smoking in cars carrying children has been introduced in many different countries while a number of other countries are planning to introduce the required legislation.