Madam, - David Begg rightly points to the benefits of social partnership in dealing with some of the major social issues that we face (The Irish Times, December 16th).
Madam, - David Begg rightly points to the benefits of social partnership in dealing with some of the major social issues that we face (The Irish Times, December 16th).
It is therefore disappointing to note that the ICTU has all but abandoned social partnership in dealing with the biggest burden on our health services: tobacco use and nicotine addiction.
Price increases on tobacco products are well established as the most effective way of discouraging young people from starting to smoke, encouraging current smokers to quit and dissuading ex-smokers from recommencing the habit.
In the post-Budget debate in Dáil Éireann, the Tánaiste made it clear that the Government would have placed an even greater increase on tobacco taxes if it had had agreement from ICTU on the excluding tobacco price from the Consumer Price Index.
This would have allowed for wage negotiations on inflation figures based on a CPI that excluded tobacco.
The scourge of tobacco addiction falls predominately on poorer people, more of whom suffer the consequences of illness and early death. It has been calculated that two-thirds of the inequalities in health status between rich and poor are directly attributable to tobacco.
If social partnership is to mean anything, there is a need for all concerned to tackle this serious problem which kills 7,000 Irish people, mostly the less well-off, every year. - Yours, etc.,
Dr FENTON HOWELL,
Chairman,
ASH Ireland,
Northumberland Road,
Dublin 4.