TOBACCO MEN STAND FIRM AGAINST LINK WITH CANCER

ONE of the leading companies in the tobacco industry yesterday refused to
admit that smoking caused cancer when it appeared before Joint Committee on
Health and Children.

Mr Ian Birks, head of corporate affairs of Gallaher Group (UK), told the
committee that smoking was a habit which people could take up or give up. It
was not an addiction, he insisted.

Quizzed on the health issue, Mr Birks said warnings carried on cigarette
packs outlined the health risks.

Mr Birks, who admitted that he smoked cigars but not cigarettes, did not
accept that smoking caused health problems, such as lung cancer, bronchitis
and heart disease.

Greens TD John Gormley accused tobacco companies of being drug pushers,
albeit legal drug pushers.

Mr Birks said such comments were unhelpful. He believed there was no
question of addiction. But he was sure the addiction question would be
examined in a court of law.

Managing director of Gallaher (Dublin) Limited, Adrian Goodrich, told Fine
Gael's Alan Shatter, that he never had an interest in smoking. But he said
he had no difficulty in managing a tobacco company.

Asked if he had concerns about the effects of smoking on his health, Mr
Goodrich replied: "None whatever."

Committee chairman Batt O'Keeffe said that all the tobacco companies in
Ireland had been asked to appear before the committee and commended Gallaher
for accepting their invitation.

Mr O'Keeffe praised Mr Birks for "batting well" on the smoking issue. But,
he said, a lot of questions had been left unanswered.

Mr O'Keeffe said that smoking as a health issue highlighted the need for the
introduction of legislation which would allow the committee to compel
witnesses and send for documents.

Meanwhile, a Dublin solicitor planning to take civil actions against the
major tobacco companies in Ireland said he was not surprised by the comments
made by the industry and their unwillingness to accept responsibility for
the illness and deaths caused by their products.

Peter McDonnell said that since he had started work on the cases 36 of his
clients had died - six in the last seven months. He pointed out that over
6,000 people are killed every year in Ireland from smoking related illnesses
- - a figure that equated to over 15 deaths every day.

Mr McDonnell said: "Though we are clearly disappointed about the lack of
remorse shown we are not surprised. The tobacco industry will find us very
difficult and determined opponents and we are confident that we will win."

Another firm of solicitors, Ward and Fitzpatrick, Dublin, who are the
largest plaintiff tobacco litigation firm in Europe with over 1,000 clients,
claimed that cigarettes were king-size killers. But the tobacco industries'
response to such carnage had not been appropriate nor acceptable.

Solicitor Francis Fitzpatrick of Ward and Fitzpatrick noted the similarity
between the current Dail hearings and the American Congressional hearings in
the United States in 1994.

A video tape of the congressional hearings shown at the recent trial in
Minnesota showed senior tobacco executives testifying under oath that
nicotine was not addictive. Internal tobacco documents revealed that the
industry knew nicotine was addictive prior to 1994.

Ms Fitzpatrick said: "Internal documentation from Irish and UK manufacturers
must be produced at the trial in Ireland and any statements made would be
reviewed in the light of those documents."

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett