3 TOBACCO FIRMS NOW THREATENING IRELAND WITH LEGAL ACTION
It has emerged that three tobacco companies have now threatened legal action over Ireland’s new plain packaging tobacco laws.
The legislation was signed into law by the President yesterday afternoon, and will take effect on a date to be decided by the Minister for Health.
Japan Tobacco International, Philip Morris, and Imperial Tobacco have all written to the government through three different legal firms.
Children’s Minister James Reilly – who began work on the laws when he was in the Department of Health – says the state is ready to stand its ground in court if necessary.
“Yes we are – and I want to give a message to those companies, and I’ve said it before, that they may take us to court (but) we will defend it robustly and we will pursue them for our costs” he said.
