asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious public concern at the fact that next to Denmark Irish boys and girls under 18 are the heaviest smokers in Europe; that 50 per cent are known to be habitual smokers; that lung cancer deaths have increased in women by 95 per cent even in the past ten years; that Ireland shares with Scotland and Northern Ireland the highest death rate in the world from coronary heart disease, a major cause of which is cigarette smoking; the plans he has to curb the efforts of tobacco companies in advertising their wares to young people by sponsoring sporting and artistic events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Tobacco Smoking.
69.
I am aware of the serious damage to the nations' health which is caused by tobacco smoking. There are at present approximately 17,000 deaths from smoking related diseases and it is estimated that 5,000 of these are directly due to smoking. Research also indicates that cigarette smoking is becoming increasingly prevalent among Irish schoolchildren, particularly schoolgirls.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently laid new tobacco products regulations before the Houses of the Oireachtas. These regulations increase the restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products. Advertisements for, and packages of, tobacco products will be required to display in rotation three warnings and there will be an increase in the space in advertisements devoted to those warnings.
I am also acutely aware of the powerful impact of tobacco-sponsored sporting and artistic events, in particular in relation to young people. Research in Britain has shown that the most heavily promoted cigarette brand was also the brand most preferred by children.
In Ireland the tobacco companies spent £2.2 million on sponsorship in 1984 which represents an increase of 84 per cent over their expenditure in 1980. It is becoming increasingly obvious that tobacco companies regard sponsorship as a vital part of their sales promotion activities. It is for these reasons that I intend to bring before Government, in the immediate future, measures designed to limit the effectiveness of tobacco sponsorship.