Vol. 537 No. 3
162 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the settlement of $357 million by the tobacco industry with the United States individual states; and the implications this has for Ireland. [16282/01]
I am aware of the legal developments involving the tobacco industry in the United States.
The legal issues involved in the possibility of the State or State agencies initiating litigation against the tobacco industry here to recoup money spent in treating tobacco related illness have been referred for assessment. However, given the complexity of the substantive law issues involved, it is not possible to indicate, at this stage, when this assessment will be completed.
