Sir, – Having lost the medical and political debate on the plain packaging issue, it is not surprising that Big Tobacco is now threatening our Government with legal action.
These kinds of bullyboy tactics are standard practice for the tobacco industry all around the world. It is imperative that our government stands firm against such tactics and introduces what has been well-established in Australia to be progressive and positive health legislation. – Yours, etc, DR ROSS MORGAN, Chairperson, ASH Ireland, 50 Ringsend Rd, Dublin 4.
Sir, – Arthur Beesley usefully elucidates the legal options available to cigarette manufacturers as they seek to prevent governments legislating on cigarette-packet branding ("Japan Tobacco's packaging objections look set for courts").
But the avenues he outlines will be considerably widened if the proposed investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) forms part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated by the EU and the US.
Under the ISDS, big business will be facilitated in striking down any law that might impinge on its anticipated future profits, with legally binding rulings being issued by an arbitration panel composed of lawyers, at which other people have no representation.
Surely no sensible government would agree to this? Wrong. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton was one of 14 signees to a letter sent late last year to the European Commission to pressure it into incorporating the ISDS into the TTIP.
If the ISDS proposal is accepted into the TTIP, governments will naturally seek to avoid expensive claims by not enacting legislation likely to upset big business. Surely this cannot be allowed to happen. – Yours, etc, DOMINIC CARROLL Ardfield, Co Cork. Sir, – Nothing has strengthened the case for plain-packaging for cigarettes more than the attempts by Big Tobacco to strong-arm the State into complying with their demands.
The company’s contempt for the public health of this country should be met with contempt, in the form of removing its last source of advertising – cigarette packet designs.
It’s just a pity that the Government couldn’t be as brave when it comes to confronting the drinks lobby. – Yours, etc, TOMÁS M CREAMER Aughnasheelin, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
Sir, – We read with interest the threat from tobacco firm JTI Ireland to commence legal proceedings if the Government does not drop its plans to introduce legislation for plain cigarette packaging.
JTI cited its direct employment of 100 people in Ireland and its tax payments of more than €665 million in 2013. JTI will not have mentioned that it is smokers who pay the tax and that JTI makes about €15 million net profit here every year from those who are addicted to its products.
It will not have discussed the costs of premature deaths due to smoking-related diseases in Ireland — estimated at over €3,500 million per annum, and it will have failed to mention the 5,200 people who die as a result of smoking each year in Ireland.
Danny McCoy, chief executive of employers union IBEC, has expressed concern at the proposed legislation and has asked that its passage be paused.
This approach disregards the costs of smoking to employers; productivity losses and long-term incapacity due to smoking-related diseases cost the Irish state over €160 million in 2009 alone. One in every two employees who smoke will die as a result of their habit. Plain packaging represents the logical, evidence-based next step in tackling smoking-related disease and is crucial if the Government is to achieve its aim of a tobacco-free Ireland by 2025. – Yours, etc, DR RONAN GLYNN DR ELYCE McGOVERN DR CHANTAL MIGONE DR LOIS O’CONNOR Registrars in public health medicine, Dublin.