Sir, – It was interesting to see Bill O'Herlihy justifying his role as an advocate for the Irish tobacco industry ("Bill O'Herlihy defends role as lobbyist for tobacco industry", June 11th). Mr O'Herlihy is "concerned" about smuggling.
There is not a shred of evidence to show that plain packaging will in any way increase smuggling, and this was clarified by both the Gardaand the Revenue Commissioners at recent Oireachtas committee hearings on this matter.
Mr O’Herlihy should perhaps focus his advocacy skills on ensuring that the tobacco industry does everything possible to reduce the 5,200 deaths which are directly related to smoking in this country every year – and also encourage it to support all health measures that could reduce the €1 billion-plus spent on treating tobacco-related disease by our health services year after year. – Yours, etc,
Dr ROSS MORGAN,
Ash Ireland,
Ringsend Road,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – As a cancer survivor, I applaud Minister for Health James Reilly's attack on the repulsive tobacco industry and their "intellectual property" ("Tobacco firms likely to challenge plain packaging on grounds of intellectual property", June 11th).
Just over 50 years after the US surgeon-general conclusively proved the link between smoking and cancer, the industry persists in using every possible underhand marketing tactic to addict children and young adults to a product that is proven to kill half its consumers.
If plain packaging has no effect on sales, as the industry’s well-paid lobbyists claim, why are they so concerned?
The industry has threatened a massive legal onslaught on our Government to protect their “right” to continue to kill our citizens.
Perhaps the Government should impose an immediate levy of, say, 90 per cent on the profits from tobacco manufacture and sales to fund the continuing defence of our citizens. Any surplus could be used to fund cancer research, hospices, and other services useful to smokers.
One of the few things we can be proud of here is our pioneering stance in opposing big tobacco by imposing a workplace ban, a ban that has saved thousands of lives already. Let us all support the Government in fighting this vile industry. – Yours, etc,
TOM WADE,
Shanowen Grove,
Santry, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Minister for Health Reilly deserves praise for his various efforts to curb smoking. His personal commitment to this is not in doubt. However, his “bring it on” bravado in anticipating a legal challenge from the tobacco industry to his proposed plain packaging Bill is reckless.
The Minister may relish legal action but he is showing scant regard for the Irish taxpayer, who could be stuck with a bill running into millions if the intellectual property rights and trademarks of the cigarette manufacturers are upheld in the Irish courts. The Incorporated Law Society has already warned of this likelihood. Has the Minister’s Government not inflicted enough pain on the taxpayer already? – Yours, etc,
JOE SWEENEY,
Newscentre,
Donaghmede
Shopping Centre,
Dublin 13.