Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD and Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Thursday) slammed the tobacco industry after its representatives appeared before the Committee today to argue against the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products.

“I was struck by the desperate arguments made by tobacco industry representatives in Leinster House today. We were told that plain packaging does not work and that education is the way forward to reduce smoking. It does not surprise me that the industry takes this approach. Like turkeys not voting for Christmas, the tobacco industry does not want to go down the road of plain packaging and further restriction on how they market their products. However we must put the health and wellbeing of our population over the profit motives of an industry whose products kill people.

“One in two smokers will die from a smoking related illness. The industry needs 25 young people starting to smoke in Ireland every day to replace those who have quit or died from their smoking.

“The tobacco industry is an enormously profitable global business which despite its strenuous denials markets cigarettes to young people, young girls in particular. Research has found that young girls who were receptive to cigarette packaging in a light coloured, lipstick shaped box were four times more likely to be susceptible to smoking that those who were not. It sickens me to hear them brazenly protest that they are not targeting young people, yet 78% of new smokers in Ireland are under the age of 18.

“It is the Government’s responsibility to protect young people and encourage healthy behaviour. When I asked the tobacco representatives if they would be happy if their own children were smokers, they all replied no! Surely, they should be supportive then that we are protecting their children.

“The tobacco industry has also threatened to sue this Irish government if it implements plain packaging. The Minister for Health has rightly said he will not be intimidated by this sort of bullying. Today’s proceedings have confirmed for me, as Minister has previously attested, that the tobacco industry is an evil industry which will stop at nothing to make a profit. Sadly however, what may be a profit for them could ultimately result in a loss of life for another.”