Government hypocrisy on tobacco stance

THE Government, in its determination to introduce a ban on smoking in bars and other public places, should ensure that it cannot be accused of double standards.

As part of the National Pension Reserve Fund, the Government has close on €17m invested in tobacco companies. This breaks down as follows:

Philip Morris €10,576,100

British American Tobacco €3,589,961

Imperial Tobacco Group €2,788,188

Given the Minister for Health's belief that smoking causes serious illness and death, it is totally illogical and immoral that the Government should have money invested in companies which manufacture the noxious agents.

I call on the Government to lead by example and cancel those investments and reinvest the money in reputable companies.

Failure to do so will show the Government as being guilty of gross hypocrisy and duplicitous behaviour.

Cllr Michael Gleeson,

South Kerry Independent Alliance.

Clasheen,

Killarney,

Co Kerry.