The views of cigarette companies that smoking is a health risk but does not cause illnesses such as lung cancer and heart disease were questioned at an Oireachtas Committee yesterday.

Representatives from P.J. Carroll & Co Ltd and John Player & Sons were making submissions to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. The representatives also maintained that children were not influenced by tobacco advertising and that it was the example of family, friends and peers that caused young people to start smoking. They stated that there was nothing to prove passive smoking was harmful and denied smoking was addictive.

This was challenged by Senator Camillus Glynn (FF) who said: "I believe there are very strong commercial reasons why the companies are saying it is not addictive."

Mr Alistair Ross, managing director of P.J. Carroll, said it believed smoking was one of the risk factors to health with others, such as dietary considerations and stress. "Many studies show a statistical association between diseases like lung cancer and heart disease but also show an association with many other variables such as diet and stress. We accept that there is some association but it does not mean that it causes these diseases," he said.

Mr Ross said t the company did not believe smoking was addictive and millions of people had given it up.

Acting chairman of the committee Mr Paul Connaughton (FG), said he thought that was a quantum leap in the way people acted or thought. The general belief was that so many people could not stop because it was addictive.