Something rather strange is happening in Ireland today.
When I first raised the subject of Forest setting up a group in Ireland I was told, "No thanks, we don't want people from England telling us what to do".
Of course not, I replied. That's not what we have in mind. We'll set up an independent group and employ someone in Ireland (an Irishman, since you ask). All we'll do is offer help and advice.
That was in 2001. The suggestion was rejected and three years later Ireland introduced what was said to be the world's first comprehensive ban on smoking in public places. (I'm not saying there is a link but organised opposition was noticeable by its absence in the years prior to the ban.)
Anyway, fast forward to today and what do I find:
Anti-smoking experts from the UK are meeting with gardai and the HSE today to discuss ways to encourage people to quit smoking.
Anti-smoking experts from the UK say that encouraging smokers to quit should be Ireland's number one health priority.
These so-called 'experts' are all over the airwaves – NewsTalk, Today FM, Kildare FM, Spin FM, Galway Bay FM, WLR FM ... What's going on?
Another media report reveals that:
Fresh was the UK's first dedicated programme set up in the North East of England to tackle the worst rates of smoking related illnesses and deaths in the country.
Ah, so the 'experts' are Fresh aka Smokefree North East.
Question: what is a tobacco control group funded by the British taxpayer doing in Ireland discussing ways to encourage people to quit smoking?
Who paid for this junket? And why are they meeting with gardai? What have the police got to do with smoking and health?
Answers, please.
Update on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 15:11 by
Simon Clark
John Mallon, our man in Ireland, writes:
Mystery solved! Prof Eugene Milne, Deputy Regional Director of Public Health from the UK North East Region, was in Dublin to receive an award from the Irish Cancer Society for his work in the area of anti smoking.
The good Prof put it all down to multiple agencies coming together in the UK and putting in place (as he put it), "Concerted efforts on many fronts". He claims that from 2005-2009 smoking rates drop from 29 to 22 per cent in the UK. He cites the setting up of the Office of Tobacco Control UK as being the catalyst.
"The meeting with the Gardai is a mystery," adds John, "unless, as I suspect, a lot of the smuggled ciggies that come through Ireland end up in the UK."