A US lawyer involved in legal action that led to settlements of over $200 billion by tobacco companies in the US today met privately with Minister for Health Mr Martin.
Mr Steve Berman, who has joined forces with a Dublin-based law firm, is urging the Government to sue tobacco companies to recoup the treatment costs of people harmed by smoking. It could receive up to £18 billion if successful.
Mr Berman has also offered to underwrite a significant portion of the cost of the action to minimise risk for the Government, reports said.
A Department of Health spokesman said the matter had already been discussed with the Attorney General and that possibilities were being considered. A parliamentary committee on health and smoking has recommended legal action.
The lawyer's intervention followed the opening of a separate continuing move in the High Court, seeking an order to have the medical records preserved of plaintiffs taking action against a number of firms, including Benson & Hedges, Gallager's, John Player, and P J Carroll.
Mr Berman said he thought many of the strategies used in the US could be adopted in Ireland for cases against tobacco manufacturers.
Some 7,000 people die in the State each year from smoking-related diseases. The cost to the health service of treatment is estimated at £750 million annually.
Additional reporting:
