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.