Vol. 488 No. 7
224 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of deaths estimated which can be attributed to smoking tobacco products for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7098/98]
It is estimated that 20 per cent of all deaths each year are artributable to tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. Based on this estimate the number of tobacco-related deaths would be of the order of 6,000 for each of the last ten years.
I am conducting a general review of smoking and health policy and when this is completed I will make a further statement on the matter.
