Politicians have insisted Ireland will not be “bullied” into cancelling plans to impose plain cigarette packaging by May 2017, despite a multi-million euro legal threat from one of the world’s largest tobacco firms to scrap the bill by Friday.
TDs across the political divide said they will not be “brow beaten” by “external forces” following a warning from JTI Ireland. In a show of strength, they pledged to back future plans to strictly limit the sale of e-cigarettes in order to prevent the “enslavement” of a new generation of smokers.
The high-profile stand-off surrounds the long-term plan by Children’s Minister Dr James Reilly to introduce, by May 2017, plain packaging on cigarette packages, a euphemism for graphic images showing what happens to life-long smokers,
Ireland is the first country in the EU to seek the changes as part of bloc-wide laws due next year.
Similar plans have been introduced to clear effect in Australia where they are being strongly opposed by the tobacco industry, amid claims of a surge in black market cigarette sales, job losses and little effect on people stopping smoking.
JTI Ireland, producers of Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges, has threatened to sue the State for millions of euro in lost revenue unless the plain packaging plans are scrapped, by Friday.
However, in a rare show of unity after being informed by the Attorney General that Ireland will not be liable for any payout, senior opposition officials backed cabinet in supporting Dr Reilly’s measure.
Speaking as the bill went through the cross-party health committee without amendments, a key step towards being enacted, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin’s health spokespeople Billy Kelleher and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin both stressed the protection of lives far outweighs any job losses.
Noting the JTI Ireland threat — which was sent to Dr Reilly, Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Enda Kenny by Arthur Cox solicitors on February 11 —Mr Ó Caoláin said the pressure will just “steel our resolve”.
Source: Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Irish Examiner, 18/02/15
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