Tobacco Control Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 June 2014

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Questions (179)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

179. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health in view of his comments recently that he expects the tobacco industry to sue the Irish Government when it introduces plain packaging for tobacco products; if he has identified and notified this as a significant economic risk to the Department of the Taoiseach for inclusion in the national risk assessment, if he has quantified the financial scale of the risk to the State of losing an action against the tobacco industry; the basis on which any such figure was reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26225/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In its publication entitled "Technical Resource for Country Implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3", the WHO has outlined the various forms of tobacco industry tactics to interfere with tobacco control measures. Litigation and threat of litigation is one of the forms mentioned. These measures are often utilised as a means of delaying various legislative provisions from coming into operation and as a means of diverting resources away from other tobacco control and health promotion initiatives. Litigation also acts as a deterrent for other countries from developing and enacting new progressive pieces of tobacco control legislation. The threat of litigation should not be an obstacle to the introduction of important public health measures. I am of the view that standardised packaging for tobacco products is a proportionate, evidence-based public health measure which will assist, together with the other many initiatives outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland, in reducing the overall prevalence of smoking in Ireland. The introduction of standardised packaging has the support of the Government and has been considered and approved by Government.