Health Minister James Reilly has defiantly challenged Big Tobacco to sue Ireland and its taxpayers for billions of euro over his plans to introduce plain packaging for all cigarettes.
The Sunday Independent has learnt that the tobacco companies have already begun the legal groundwork to challenge the proposals, all the way to the highest court in Europe.
However, they will not initiate any action until the Heads of Bill of the new laws are published by the Government – so they can see if the legislation will offer compensation for loss of trademarks.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Dr Reilly said he was not surprised the tobacco firms will fight him "every step of the way".
"They are focusing all their vast resources on this country, on this Government and this department to prevent what they see as a real sea change in the way cigarettes are sold," he said.
"The packet and the packaging remains the last bastion of advertising. It's the mobile billboard, and they know the devastating impact plain packaging will have on their industry.
"It is quite amazing that on the one hand they claim: 'This will have no effect. It is foolish'. Then on the other hand they say they will sue us for the equivalent of our Gross Domestic Product for the losses they might sustain."
The massive lawsuit could cost Irish taxpayers billions of euro, but the minister said the Government could not ignore a "scourge" on society that kills 5,200 people here every year.
The Sunday Independent has learnt that the tobacco industry has hired 161 lobbyists to put pressure on just under 700 MEPs in a bid to protect the cigarette industry.
Source: Jerome Reilly, Sunday Independent, 06/10/13
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