Standardised tobacco packaging
A Deputy condemns Japan Tobacco Group’s threatened legal action over standardised tobacco packaging and urges the State to counter-sue; the Chair says the issue could be raised as a Topical Issue.
The Minister will have an interest in this topic, which comes under Bills before the Dáil and Seanad, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014. It is with awesome cheek and arrogance that Japan Tobacco Group threatens to sue the Minister for Health and the HSE for bringing forward the Bill. The Government should consider counter-suing them as a class action on behalf of the State for the death, damage and destruction they have caused families and the people of Ireland. That should put an end to the matter.
Comment on this
The Bill to which the Deputy referred came before the committee on Tuesday. I hear what the Deputy is saying.
Comment on this
Legislation is a matter for the Oireachtas.