Sir, – It is positive to see the Government defending an established policy objective regarding public health in the face of considerable opposition from the “Big Tobacco” lobby, most notably Japan Tobacco Group’s threat of legal action.
What the public must realise is that these odious developments would be facilitated greatly in the future should the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US come into force. As a result of the planned Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), corporations would be allowed to sue individual governments for any action that may limit their future profits. One wonders how the ISDS would affect the current dispute over plain tobacco packaging. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN Ó DEORÁIN,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Sir, – The use of “plain packaging” for this regulation is playing into the hands of those who want to confuse the public with the idea that the cigarette packs will be a uniform single coloured design and so easily copied by the smugglers and other illicit traders. The design will not be this “plain” but will be adorned with graphic pictures and health warnings.
If the designs of current packs are so secure, why then are we swamped by illegal products already?
The use of “non-branded” or “brand-free” packs would be a more accurate description of the proposal. – Yours, etc,
JOHN K ROGERS,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.