Good luck to John Mallon who is launching Forest Eireann's 'Smokers' Manifesto' in Cork this morning.
The manifesto urges politicians to:
• respect the rights of adults who have made an informed choice to smoke tobacco in full knowledge of the health risks associated with this legal product
• acknowledge that the overwhelming majority of smokers are ordinary, decent, law-abiding adults whose habit does not affect their ability to make a positive contribution to Irish society
• relax the smoking ban so that pubs and bars can provide smoking rooms that allow adults to smoke in greater comfort without bothering non-smokers
• cut tobacco duty to tackle smuggling and reduce the temptation to buy tobacco abroad
• recognise the major financial contribution made by consumers who buy tobacco from legitimate retailers in Ireland
• review the use of public money to fund groups and quangos dedicated to persecuting adult smokers
• engage with the consumer so that one million smokers no longer feel ignored and disenfranchised from the political process
• treat one million voters [the number of adult smokers in Ireland] with the respect they deserve
The manifesto is being published in advance of the Irish election on Friday February 25.