The Irish Government today announced that public hearings will be held on proposals to introduce plain packaging.
Forest Eireann responded:
Campaigners have vowed to challenge proposals to increase the size of health warnings and remove branding on tobacco packs.
The Cabinet today approved the General Scheme for the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013 and referred it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for review.
John Mallon, spokesman for the smokers' group Forest Eireann, said:
"Plain packaging is gesture politics designed to distract attention from more important issues facing the health service.
"We intend to challenge the Bill and we will be writing to Health Committee chairman Jerry Buttimer to request an opportunity to give evidence on behalf of the consumer.
"There is no evidence that plain packs will stop children smoking or reduce smoking rates among adults.
"The most common reasons children start smoking is because of peer pressure or the influence of family members. Packaging has nothing to do with it.
"The introduction of standardised packs in Australia last year has had no discernible effect on the sale or consumption of tobacco. Illicit trade, however, has increased, as many people said it would.
"Ireland already has a huge problem with illicit tobacco. Plain packaging could make things worse and that will have unintended consequences for children and adult consumers."
I'll keep you posted.
Update: Reilly braced for tobacco 'fight' (Irish Independent), Tobacco industry to 'fight tooth and nail' (Irish Examiner)