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Some examples of standardised cigarette packs used in Australia. PA Archive/Press Association Images

Why are tobacco companies opposing this so vigorously? They're afraid.

Multinational tobacco companies don’t want to see Ireland introduce plain packaging because they know it works, writes Minister James Reilly.

CIGARETTE PACKETS ARE now sold in slim packets that resemble lipstick with glitzy colours, creative designs and stylish writing. That is advertising.

Standardised packaging of cigarettes will end this.

All cigarette boxes will be the same shape and size and will feature a graphic picture warning on the front and back of the box. The brand name will be printed in a standardised font and size.

It will strip away the illusions created by shiny, pink packets and replace them with shocking images showing the real consequences of smoking. Cigarette packets will be transformed into grim warnings about the stark realities for smokers.

Let’s dwell on the reality of smoking:

  • Smoking is responsible for almost one in five of all deaths in Ireland – 5,200 deaths every year; 14 deaths every day.
  • Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body.
  • Half of smokers will eventually die from a smoking-related disease.
  • To maintain smoking rates at their current levels, the tobacco industry needs to recruit 50 new smokers every day.
  • 78% of smokers start smoking before they are 18 years old – while they are children.

Our smoking rate is falling  

The premature death of 5,200 people per year is a major public health concern. But we are tackling it head on. Last year Ireland became one of the few countries in the EU to have a smoking rate under 20%. Our smoking rate has fallen from 33% in 1998 to 19.5% today. Our aim is to have a Tobacco Free Ireland – defined as a smoking rate of less than 5% – by 2025. We are winning this battle thanks to the determination of successive governments.

The smoking ban, the ban on the sale of packets of ten, the ban on the display of cigarettes in shops and consistent tax increases have all contributed to this progress. Our policies are working. We must continue our battle.

Standardised packaging is the next step in driving our smoking rates down further towards achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland.

We know the impact that it will have.

When standardised packaging was introduced in Australia, so many smokers complained that the cigarettes now tasted differently that a tobacco company issued a statement denying that they had changed their ingredients.

Australia’s quitline received a flood of additional calls.

Research from Australia shows that when smoking cigarettes from a plain pack, smokers are:

• 81% more likely to have thought about quitting at least once a day and rate quitting as a higher priority in their lives
• 70% more likely to say they found them less satisfying
• 66% more likely to think their cigarettes are of poorer quality

Smoking rates in Australia are now at the lowest level since records began. They are declining at the fastest pace in 20 years.

The tobacco industry is vigorously opposing this legislation 

Most importantly, standardised packaging will reduce the number of children who become addicted to a product that kills one in two of its long-term users.

The tobacco industry is vigorously opposing this legislation because they fear it. They fear it because they know that it works. They are afraid that Irish smoking rates will tumble and that others in Europe will follow Ireland and Australia.

It looks like they are right. When Ireland became the second country in the world to commit to passing standardised packaging legislation in May 2013, many countries were waiting for legal proceedings against Australia in the World Trade Organisation to conclude – a process that still has not finished.

Since then, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have progressed legislation in their Parliaments. France, Norway and Finland have all indicated their intention to follow suit. Standardised packaging will be the future of cigarettes – not just in Ireland and Australia but throughout the world.

The tobacco industry will move to protect its profits. However, the State has a moral duty to protect the health of its citizens and to prevent our children from being lured into a killer addiction by marketing gimmicks. This Government will not put the profit of multinational tobacco companies ahead of the future health of our children. What kind of a society would we be if we prioritised the intellectual property rights of the tobacco industry over the future health of our children?

I look forward to progressing this legislation to Report and Final Stage in the very near future.

James Reilly is the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Big Tobacco is threatening James Reilly but plain packs ‘will be in shops by May 2017’

This is how these scientists prove plain packaging tobacco works

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113 Comments
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    Mute Emily O Conor
    Favourite Emily O Conor
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:07 AM

    It’s a no – brainer. Ban ‘em! As a smoker even I don’t understand why they’re legal, it’s nuts (… & inhale!)

    366
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    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:17 AM

    Basically tax revenue. I will agree with plain packaging when its applied equally to all health damaging items – like cheese thats ingredients are like the periodic table, cereal thats more sugar than actual cereal or seasoning mixes that are a mix of god knows what.

    94
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    Mute Frank Hallissey
    Favourite Frank Hallissey
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:22 AM

    I’ve seen a lot of idiotic comments on this site, but that one surely takes th(chemically laced) cake. You honestly think because you can’t pronounce something or it sounds ‘icky’ that it’s automatically good for you? I suppose your one of these anti fluoridation, anti-vaccers too?

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    Mute Frank Hallissey
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:22 AM

    *not good for you

    45
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:29 AM

    Frank, 1 of my children almost died gasping for breath after being exposed to another parent who was an against vaccinations so keep your idiotic, small minded accusations to yourself.
    All my kids are fully vacc’d, with even the new men jab.

    42
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    Mute Frank Hallissey
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Yet you are anti long scary words in food.

    64
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    Mute Eilís Murphy
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:33 AM

    Yup Sam, those seasonal mixes are just killing people left right and centre!

    87
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:34 AM

    What, no comeback to calling me anti vac?

    23
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    Mute Frank Hallissey
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:37 AM

    What are your views on fluoride, Sam? How about long words in journalism? Are they scary too?

    37
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Yes eilís, carcinogens can cause cancer, even those in seasonings.

    43
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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:39 AM

    Thats it frank, keep deflecting

    27
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    Mute Frank Hallissey
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:46 AM

    Okay, I’ll bite. What carcinogens are contained in seasoning mixes and cheese? One or two will do.

    51
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    Mute Saul Goodman
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:28 AM

    In the ideal world yes we should ban them, but realistically speaking it will open the doors for a black market, people will still smoke, the best we can do is making them as unappealing as possibly taking away the “cool side” of it. It should be implement in the whole of EU so no one can buy nicely packed fags from Eastern Europe

    68
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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:23 AM

    The article is about tobacco and plain packaging.

    The comments seems to wish to deflect away from that.

    Tobacco companies and their big law firm allies need to be resisted.

    41
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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Feb 20th 2015, 11:30 AM

    What did your child almost die of Sam?

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    Mute Fran mcardle
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:58 PM

    If they ban em outright they’ll just go underground and instead of u buying em off a newsagent you’ll be buying em off a drug dealer. Now if u think tobacco companies will do anything to protect their profits

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    Mute Malcolm McCarthy
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:02 AM

    Kids. Say no to drugs.

    199
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    Mute James Bergin
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:31 AM

    The pictures on the boxes in Australia are absolutely disgusting. Gross stuff

    189
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    Mute Amy Wallis
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    Feb 20th 2015, 11:57 AM

    Which is why they’re perfect.

    212
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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:12 PM

    Wonder why government won’t have this in place till at least 2017 . it took 6 months in Australia. And why they are using the same law firm as the tobacco companies. Surely there is conflict of interest.

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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:22 PM

    Singapore have had those packets since i was there back in 2005. yet their smoking habits are on the increase. while its a good idea to have them, don’t be fooled into thinking it will help much. in the uk they are touting a 1bn price tag on bringing in plain packaging. wonder how much this government plans on spending on consultants when education and quitting packs would be a better use of resources.

    http://www.tobaccofreesingapore.info/2011/02/smoking-in-singapore-on-the-rise-new-approach-needed-urgently/

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:29 PM

    littleone, maybe the Ukraine have a case pending

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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:51 PM

    ?

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:25 PM
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    Mute littleone
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:35 PM

    Very good . bit like Indonesian farmers writing to enda Kenny personally. As if farmers in Indonesia know who enda Kenny is.

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    Mute Jon Burkin
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    Feb 23rd 2015, 8:07 AM

    This is a very interesting insight into the tobacco companies. And John Oliver is quite funny.

    http://youtu.be/6UsHHOCH4q8

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:27 AM

    Cigarettes are beautiful creations that make you look sooo cool
    *just for balance

    T&C’s apply
    (incl. lung cancer)

    141
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:41 AM

    Why doesn’t our health minister tell the tobacco companies to F off and make them print out all the compounds and hazardous ingredients on every packet. Why is it legal for the tobacco industry to sell such a toxic product, if any other products were so dangerous to people’s health they would be banned. These companies should be made liable for the consequences to users health because of their addictive nature.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:55 AM

    there are too many of them… would require bigger boxes

    38
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 11:01 AM

    A skull and bones leaflet with all ingredients inside the plastic wrappers could do it.

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    Mute Gaz
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:03 AM

    Say no to cigarettes and YES to Guinness :)

    97
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    Mute Setrakian
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:10 AM

    You did fek all good for this country as the minister for health Mr O’Reilly – you have a reverse Midas touch & a very poor track record. The argument against big tobacco is probably the easiest one you’ll ever make but the Devil is in the detail so please don’t f**k this up as well. Now be off with you.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:39 AM

    Oh be nice.

    33
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    Mute William Willis
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:09 AM

    Those pictures are awful – it reminds me of
    “When I read about the horrors of drinking, i gave up…. reading”

    66
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    Mute leslie skinner
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:08 AM

    Ban cigarettes altogether that will work better.

    61
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:37 AM

    Prohibition doesn’t work, it would just push the market underground and criminalise smokers.

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    Mute Vincent O Mahony
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:36 AM

    It doesn’t need to criminalise smokers if you target supply rather than consumption/ possession of small quantity – similar to how marihuana is treated in some states.

    Yes a black market will be created by banning tobacco but I cant believe that the same or a greater number of cigarettes will be smoked as a result. I also believe that reducing availability will reduce the number of young people taking it up.

    If youngsters want to try something because its illegal they will be going for things that make them high the first times they try it. Cigarettes don’t do that, its something you keep doing because of social pressure until (not long later) you get addicted.

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    Mute john doe
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    Feb 20th 2015, 6:04 PM

    Banning cigarettes is a stupid idea.
    Even As a non smoker myself that is patently obvious.

    Have you people not learned anything from the failure of alcohol prohibition in the past and current drug prohibition? The lessons from the past show that banning any drug that has a public appetite leads to a bonanza for criminal gangs.

    Educate, legislate but don’t try to control what people put into their own bodies.

    On the plain packaging: it is questionable whether it will significantly reduce consumption with existing smoker but it is a sensible attempt at the educate & legislate approach which may dissuade new smokers from taking it up.
    The case put that it will aid smuggling should be seriously looked at not ignored in favour of political exposure.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:38 PM

    Prohibition fails utterly every time for every substance.

    The idea behinds sensible drugs legislation is “minimising harm”

    Whether the substance is illegal or legal there will be harm as people use it regardless. So which scenario allows you to minimise harm most.

    Admittedly, criminalising a substance may lead to a minor decrease in usage but at what cost of resources. Ask yourself what is the opportunity cost?

    If it is legal, the state receives:

    1) Tax from sales which can be used to fund public health initiatives to help abusers/treat harm.
    2) As there is now a legal source it saves resources wasted on garda policing of an illicit trade as well as taking gardai out of harms way when dealing with dangerous criminals. The expenditure you save from the “war on drugs” can also be used to treat drug harm
    3) Regulation means, users get a purer, safer product and know how much they are taking preventing many overdose deaths.

    There are a few caveats.

    1) Care must be taken when legalising a drug that it’s usage is not normalised. Education campaigns and licenced point of sales can help prevent an increase in use.

    2) If legalising a drug like heroin, an international effort is required, otherwise, the one state that takes the first leap would likely have a huge influx of users putting a strain on the health system.

    Anyways. Prohibition always causes more harm than treatment.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:49 PM

    I like this liberal approach. Conditions need to be reasonable. Restrictions need to be minimal.

    Personally, I favour children not starting to smoke more than 20 a day until they are at least 8 years of age.

    Freedom is important. Death is optional.

    3
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    Mute john doe
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    Feb 21st 2015, 1:22 AM

    Anthony, you do know that “banning” something doesn’t make it go away?
    With drugs such as tobacco, banning it is the legislative equivalent to sticking your fingers in your ears and saying “la la la la la”.

    There is Far more control over kids access to drugs when regulated than illegal.

    So how about being logical and: first ban the sale of cigarettes (and all other harmful substances) to kids and second make sure adults are well warned of the dangers before consumption.
    Darwin will take care of the rest.

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    Mute Vincent O Mahony
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    Feb 21st 2015, 2:40 AM

    @ John Doe, Patrick Varley, nicely scripted arguments there. Reminds me of a movie I saw about a big tobacco spin master.

    Banning tobacco will reduce availability and distribution that will lead to a reduced number of cigarettes being smoked among existing smokers, and a fewer number of young people taking it up. You dont know to what extent it will reduce it, you are just claiming a small extent to try to weaken this argument.

    You dont know that the costs of a ban will outweigh the benefits. This is just an assumption. Smokers (consumers) dont need to be criminalised if you target supply (suppliers).

    There is no comparison between alcohol prohibition and tobacco prohibition because alcohol gives people a buzz. Tobacco doesnt. Thats what speak-easys were about – the buzz.

    Young people will be less inclined to start smoking if it is illegal because the supply and availability will be restricted. Say you are a young person, you have 20 euros in your pocket, you get all illegal drugs from the same source now- including tobacco being banned- what will you spend your money on? Something that gives you a buzz!

    Finally why should we not be trying new approaches to see what works and what doesnt? As this has never been tried before, to combat such a scourge, to argue against trying it could only come from advocates of big tobacco.

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    Mute john doe
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    Feb 21st 2015, 9:27 AM

    So Vincent, you want less cigarettes being smoked no matter what the cost?

    The societal costs of prohibition are massive.

    You want to save people from themselves, what about the fact that lots of adults fully aware of the risks may decide that they wish to smoke, despite those risks. Should they not be allowed make the decision themselves?
    What business is it of yours?

    What’s next, ban parachute jumping, rock climbing and horse riding? because that would lead to fewer injuries and deaths also. Why not save those people from themselves too?

    The most ridiculous thing about your argument is that you seem happy to legitimise the illegal activity that would result. You propose a nice cosy arrangement where there is a criminal one stop shop for buying all drugs. Despite the consequences this may have such as happily placing ordinary decent people into the criminal world.

    I have nothing to do with the tobacco industry. I am just a non-smoking adult who feels that I should be free to make my own choices as long as those choices don’t harm any one else. I definitely don’t need busy bodies like you telling me what to do.

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    Mute Andy Byron
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:25 AM

    Jon Oliver did a great piece on tobacco companies sueing countries. Search Jon Oliver tobacco on you tube. Educational and hilarious

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    Mute colm connolly
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:32 AM

    He hits the nail on the head again he has a superb range between comedy and seriousness , jeff the infected lung was funny thou

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    Mute Liam is ainm dumb
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    Feb 20th 2015, 11:19 AM

    Yes really was brilliant piece

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:02 PM

    It’s John Oliver. Brilliant.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UsHHOCH4q8

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    Mute Gaz
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:33 AM

    If you smoke after sex- your doing it too fast

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    Mute steve cummins
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:21 AM

    It amazes me how short sighted governments are. They allow smoking so they can collect tax revenue while spending fortunes more treating smoking related illnesses.

    39
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:40 AM

    The tax revenue is outweighed by the health costs. The government will happily do without the tax from tobacco.

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    Mute John Mallon
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:21 AM

    Martin,

    At the Public Health hearings in the Dail, the spokesperson for the HSE was asked directly to tell the Committee how much smoking costs every year. His answer was €600m for tobacco related diseases. Then the spokesperson for the Revenue Commissioners was asked how much they take in Excise & VAT each year from smokers. His answer was €1,200m. So it seems that smokers not only pay for themselves but they pay for many others also whether they have Health Insurance or not.

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    Mute Vincent O Mahony
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:29 AM

    Excise on Tobacco may or may not cover related health expenditure.. But don’t forget about reduced pension costs too, the more that people smoke the fewer the number of years that the government has to keep paying out in pensions.

    31
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    Mute Castalla Villas
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Filthy habit ban them outright

    37
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:03 AM

    Holy Smoke. The sooner we have “white smoke” on this initiative the better. Smoking damages the smoker and also those nearby. Better also to make it clear that if someone contracts an illness directly attributable to being a smoker a binding condition of receiving treatment must be that the person gives up smoking otherwise the treatment will be withheld. The Aussies at least illustrate the consequences as a deterrent on the package. Also the easiest addiction to have is also the hardest one to get rid of.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:09 AM

    As long as cigarettes are available they will be bought ,bogey cigarette manufacturers will be helped by this new packaging ,

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:41 AM

    Not the case in Australia AFAIK

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:20 PM

    Debatable, its too soon to tell and as Oz figures have been massaged ( some would say tortured until they give the answer they were looking for) by both sides, it’s impossible to know if PP makes any difference.

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:27 PM

    “Half of smokers will eventually die from a smoking-related disease.”

    I’d love to know does that mean that half of all smokers die because they smoke. Some smokers will die from lung cancer, for example, but there will also be some non-smokers who die from lung cancer. Take two groups of 100 people, the first group smoke and the second group don’t. If half of the smokers die of lung cancer and a 10% of the non-smokers die from lung cancer is it taken that “half of all smokers die from a smoking-related disease” ignoring the fact that some would die of the lung cancer anyway.

    Misleading statistics (if it is being done) will only have a negative affect in the long run.

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:13 PM

    Oh Padraig… Don’t be using logic. It will upset people.

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:26 PM

    no harm in that

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:52 PM

    The probability of lung cancer in smokers is higher than in non smokers.

    The aetiology of morbidity and mortality due to prolonged smoking is scientifically established.

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 21st 2015, 12:59 AM

    That’s not the issue, Anthony. (but 10 out of 10 for the big words)

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    Mute Don Dave
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:25 AM

    Why ban cigarettes? People have been smoking since the stoneage and will always continue too.banning them will just increase criminal activity and reduce taxes.I am a non smoker

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    Mute Gemma Shah
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:25 PM

    As a smoker who no longer smokes I get so frustrated when I see kids smoking. I really do just want to go and knock the damn thing out of their hand. I smoked for 18 years, and I must have attempted to give up at least 50 times. It’s just such a waste. A waste of money, health, youth. Never a truer word was written than on those packets that say “smoking is highly addictive don’t start”.

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    Mute Robert Malcolmson
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:12 AM

    It’s horrible reading articles like this when you smoke, but it is indeed the truth, I think it’s awful that the government tax you on an addiction, they know you’ll want to buy more and more

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:41 AM

    The tax is there to help nudge you towards quitting.

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    Mute John O'C
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:58 AM

    It’s also to help pay for your inevitable cancer or heart disease treatment. And to sweep cigarette butts off the footpath

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:17 PM

    The objection to plain packs is because it removes the perceived value of the product. The tobacco co’s rightly recognise this will reduce individual market share, no one believes it will reduce overall consumption more than it is already declining. Mandatory removal of trademarks and branding is a serious issue, it’s an infringement of intellectual property rights and while possibly justifiable in the case of cigerettes, it sets a dangerous precedent. What’s next? Alcohol? Fast food? Come?
    Nice that James takes credit for the recent drop in smoking without mentioning it coincides with the increase in e-cigerettes. Of course James wants them gone too. It’s like they want people to stop smoking but not yet!

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:53 PM

    “The objection to plain packs is because it removes the perceived value of the product”
    It is a product that is addictive and damages your health. The product is made to feed the addiction and induce more people to get addicted. In short the production and sale of these “products” are unethical and a danger to every bodies health.

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Feb 20th 2015, 6:17 PM

    Well yes but that’s not the issue is it? we are not discussingdiscussing the production or sale of the products. We are discussing the removal of branding, which is all but invisible already. The only ones who see brands are the current users, do you really think non smokers decide to smoke because they like the box?
    Unless this has proven benefits such as stopping people taking up smoking then it just theft of property , a punitive measure rather than a corrective one.
    As I mentioned cigs seem to contribute more to reducing smoking than even the most optimistic proponents of PP claim, yet e-cigerettes are being attacked by tobacco control as though they were worse than smoking. The liquid must be marked with skull and crossbones, no mention of this being transformed to combustible cigarettes.
    You have to wonder if this is a serious attempt to reduce smoking or to gain a legal president for enforced branding removal.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:52 AM

    Tobacco companies oppose proposals: “Look! They oppose it! It must be a good thing!”
    Tobacco companies agree with proposals “Look! Even the tobacco industry realises that something must be done!”

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:45 PM

    If anyone is in doubt about one law for Big Corporation share holders and another for the 99%.

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    Mute Peter McKevitt
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    Feb 20th 2015, 1:54 PM

    If Big Tobacco sues the Irish state and wins who pays the bills, your average Joe does, not Reilly. Leave the big boys, such as the the UK, take them on. Reilly just wants his mug on the newspapers proclaiming Ireland’s in the forefront of tobacco control blah blah

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:29 PM

    If we don’t do more to limit the damage smoking tobacco does to public health..who pays the bills? Your average joe through his/her tax euro. I would be careful of letting animosity for Reilly skew your judgement on what, to my mind, seems to be a logical and important public health measure.

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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Feb 20th 2015, 6:10 PM

    considering tax from smoking out weighs money spent on health and pensions combined. remembering that non smokers still die and end up in hospital especially if they live longer. then with the pending pension crisis, the more smokers the better from a government point of view.

    Though on a more serious note, I would much prefer to see the government engage in a real full on nation wide quitting program that gave out free quitting packs, patches and e-cigs, lots more advertising on TV and more education in schools and more quitting classes and groups.
    . At the end of the day people have to want to quit or not start in the first place.

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    Mute Jānis Circenis
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:42 PM

    Coughing up blood doesn’t look cool to me.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:57 AM

    Next step should be selling them by the carton of 20 boxes only.
    Then after that, only in licensed shops – no more pub vending machines
    Then gradually increase the min amount per sale to 2 cartons, 3 cartons , 4 etc. Eventually people will stop.

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    Mute William Boyd
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    Feb 20th 2015, 11:57 AM

    Standing at a bus stop in Dublin city centre waiting for whatever number bus you get, along comes the bus the diesel engine smoking like coal lorry, suck it all in, all that beautiful carbon monoxide and whatever other poisons it exhumes?, and you give out that you might just get a tiny little whiff of cigarette smoke off somebody standing in the doorway of a pub?.

    Oh hysteria over a small bit of passive smoke makes my blood boil.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 1:13 PM

    When did I give out about getting a whiff of smoke? In fact, when did I even mention passive smoking?
    My point was directly primarily at stopping kids from starting.

    Hysteria over things that haven’t happened makes my blood warm (I’m more
    balanced than you)

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    Mute William Boyd
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:25 PM

    I didn’t mean as an individual just a generalization?

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:24 AM

    Promote smoking and solve the pension crisis.

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    Mute non sequitur
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:50 AM

    Watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver bit on tobacco. Very interesting while keeping it light

    http://youtu.be/6UsHHOCH4q8

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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Feb 20th 2015, 1:28 PM

    It’s only the smokers business, really. I doubt any smoker will tell you that it isn’t dangerous.

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    Mute mrgillhouley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:13 AM

    they are just looking out for their shareholders interests, nothing wrong in that

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Feb 20th 2015, 9:34 AM

    Yea tell that to the families who have witnessed the pain and suffering there loved ones suffer as a direct result of the addictive additives these companies fortify their products with.

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    Mute Micheal Kelliher
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    Feb 20th 2015, 2:42 PM

    Put the warning labels and higher tax on sugary drinks and unhealthy food! Obesity is becoming a bigger problem than smoking!

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    Mute Joseph Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 21st 2015, 10:27 PM

    you could drink gallons of sugary drinks and it would harm your health but it would not make smoking any less dangerous

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    Mute Robert Nugent
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    Feb 20th 2015, 3:29 PM

    100% support James Reilly on this.

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    Mute Jon Burkin
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    Feb 20th 2015, 1:16 PM

    http://youtu.be/6UsHHOCH4q8

    This will show you how evil the tobacco company’s can be.

    And it’s John Oliver cracks me up.

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    Mute The whistler
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:54 PM

    Is there actually any evidence that plain packaging has an affect on the sales of cigarettes

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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Feb 20th 2015, 2:36 PM

    no really. it’s hard to differentiate between naturally declining smoking habits with the use of E cigs. and if plain packaging has any effect at all.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:24 PM

    My thinking on this basically is.. “couldn’t hurt”

    Also, i’d imagine it will do more to discourage new or casual smokers than addicts.

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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:08 PM

    Couldn’t hurt unless it cost millions and million introduce and that’s without tobacco companies suing. As long as it’s not sound bites then i’m all for it. one thing it does do though is normalise the pictures over time. only have to look to Singapore to see that it’s does not have the effect they say it does. money would be better spent on lowering cost of E-cigs, quitting packs and education at school level.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:27 PM

    Why would it cost millions? Also, I believe tobacco companies had to pay the costs of the lawsuit in Australia when they lost. Since Irish law draws a lot on case law, it’s unlikely the state would lose. Also, if it does prevent even a small fraction of young people from smoking , the state will make their money back on future public health savings.

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    Mute Denis O Brien
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:37 PM

    UK are saying it’s going to cost them 1bn to introduce it. I would imagine that there will be solicitors, consultants and advisor’s and a legal team involved without it even going to court, it won’t be as simple as just forcing them to be made plain packaging. James has yet to say how much this is going to cost us, and we are fully aware of how good the government are at spending our money on consultants . The government will not make any money back on future public health. they will loose out in tax and end up paying more out in pensions when people live longer. It’s one of the reasons the government have not outlawed smoking already. It’s a double edged sword unfortunately.
    like I say , has not worked so well in Singapore where smoking rates are on the increase and especially in the under 18 category. And data is not solid enough in Australia to say it has that much of an impact. A lot of these stats do not take into account the growing population or black market .

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:42 PM

    Valid concerns about costs for sure.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:42 PM

    And if the cost is high, the opportunity cost could be huge.

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    Mute non sequitur
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:49 AM

    Watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver bit on tobacco. Very interesting while also keeping it light

    http://youtu.be/6UsHHOCH4q8

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    Mute Gerry Ross
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:06 PM

    I like smoking

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    Mute Robert Kelly
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    Feb 20th 2015, 12:40 PM

    #JeffWeCan

    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Tobacco (HBO): http://youtu.be/6UsHHOCH4q8

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    Mute Dermot O Reilly
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    Apr 10th 2015, 6:00 PM

    Smoking damages your health and causes cancer.

    Smoking should be banned in Ireland.

    Any person who smokes should not be entitled to Free Heathcare.

    Any person who smokes with health insurance should have his/her premium doubled !

    Time for reality.

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    Mute Peter M Buchanan
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:52 PM

    Is smoking illegal ? Thought not…. This would be credible if the Government did not make more money than the tobacco companies do from the public’s vices

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    Mute Aaron Kavanagh
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    Feb 20th 2015, 5:39 PM

    I think the tobacco industry’s main problem is that they take the term “honest advertising” a little too literally.

    You buy some tobacco or a twenty pack and it says on the outside stuff like “Smoking seriously harms you and those around you” or “Smoking can lead to heart failure” or “Smoking caused the Holocaust” or whatever.

    I don’t get the use of putting slogans like that on your product. Is it meant to be ironic? Edgy?

    Also, how are we supposed to know all the wonderful brands available to us if they’re not advertised in magazines, or papers, or pop-up ads, or bus stops? Hell, they don’t even display them when you got into the shop to buy a pack.

    The tobacco industry needs a new PR person, fast. You’d think they didn’t want us buying them the way they act.

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    Mute Tom Doyle
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:27 PM

    I despise fg and labour for what they’ve done to the country. But this is a great idea. It’s great to see big tobacco companies angry, clearly shows they’re aware this will hurt their bottom line.

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    Mute james r
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:42 PM

    Are look what next blank bottles of beer .. Donuts with obese people of the packaging .. Think where going a little to far . Educate is the only way ..

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    Mute Dermot O Reilly
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    Feb 24th 2015, 5:18 PM

    Smoking cigarettes does cause cancer !

    Many Irish citizens have died from lung cancer because they smoked.

    The Minister had a duty to all Irish citizens to force Tobacco companies to obey the Law.

    Any person that smokes should not be entitled to free medical care unless they give up smoking !

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    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
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    Oct 22nd 2015, 5:49 AM

    It’s time to outlaw tobacco!

    It’s lethal!

    Cancer sticks!

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Feb 20th 2015, 10:13 PM

    Tobacco companies are literally merchants of death and disease.

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    Mute James Marks
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    Feb 20th 2015, 6:38 PM

    For god sake stop the nanny state. If smokers want to smoke and damage their health it’s their business. O’Reilly is just trying to take people’s mind off the disaster he made of the health service when he was there.

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    Mute Ivan Murphy
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:30 PM

    I…. 100% support James Reilly on this … Make it happen!

    (now a spot of self flagellation for supporting FG…… you won’t privatise our water you traitors !!)

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    Mute john padrig
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    Feb 20th 2015, 4:30 PM

    God I love the journal comments section.

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    Mute Gillian Kennedy
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    Feb 20th 2015, 8:27 PM

    Sometimes I think cigarettes should be put on prescription – prove you’re addicted already and you can get a prescription. If not you’re out of luck.

    Maybe that might tone down the sexiness of smoking and kids would certainly find them harder to get hold of.

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