Deadly consequences of smoking must be tackled by tobacco control strategy

Analysis: Every day in Ireland, 16 people die as a result of smoking.

One in two smokers will die prematurely and as a direct result of being a smoker. Smoking kills more people every year in Ireland than road incidents, suicides, drugs, farm accidents and Aids combined. There is no doubt that smoking is a major public health issue and a huge cost to the exchequer.

Second-hand smoke is also highly dangerous and moves to protect non-smokers and children from the toxins and carcinogens in second-hand smoke have widespread public support and we welcome them. We were pleased to see the unusual level of unanimous support in Seanad Éireann for the Private Members’ Bill published by Senators Crown, Van Turnhout and Daly to ban smoking in cars where children are present.

And we also welcome the intention of the Minister for Health to ban smoking in public places where children are likely to be present, and which is also being promoted by local authorities.

Deadly consequences of smoking must be tackled by tobacco control strategy

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