Prior to the symposium, a business breakfast was held at RCPI, which was attended by many of those who were directly involved in advocating for, and introducing, this ground-breaking health legislation 10 years ago. The breakfast was addressed by Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, and Opposition Leader Micheal Martin, who was the Health Minister responsible for the introduction of the workplace smoking legislation in 2004.

Speaking today, Dr Ross Morgan, Chairperson of ASH Ireland said, “We have decided to formally recognise the introduction of Ireland’s workplace legislation here today, as it has not just been remarkably successful here in Ireland, but has also been replicated in countries all around the world. All involved should feel very proud of what this legislation has achieved for the nation’s health. Lives have been saved by the introduction of the legislation and that is a very important bottom line."

 

Dr Pat Doorley, Chair of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Policy Group on Tobacco said, “Tobacco is a lethal and addictive drug that kills when used as intended. It is the most deadly consumer product ever to be marketed. It is fully attributable to serious and fatal cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as lung cancer and other cancers. While great progress has been made in the fight against tobacco in Ireland, the fact remains that one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco related disease. We need to act now to wipe out this statistic and we call on the Government to act on the recommendations set out in the new Tobacco Policy Statement as issued by the Royal College of Physicians today.”

Addressing the seminar this morning Professor Luke Clancy, Director of the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland, who as Chairperson of ASH Ireland in 2004 was one of the main drivers for the introduction of the legislation said, “On 29 March 2004, Ireland became the first country in the world to implement comprehensive national smokefree workplace legislation, which protects all workers equally including those employed in the hospitality sector, in particular pubs and clubs. Since then, many countries throughout Europe and elsewhere have followed suit by enacting comprehensive or partial bans.

 

"While smoking prevalence and second-hand smoke exposure rates were on the decline before the legislation, over a quarter of the population were still current smokers and a significant body of workers, particularly those in the hospitality industry were still exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or secondhand smoke (SHS) continuously in their place of work. The National Survey of Lifestyles Attitudes and Nutrition (SLAN) conducted in 2002 showed that 29% of men and 16.6% of women reported often spending part of their day exposed to SHS in their workplace with exposure rates much higher among those working in pubs or clubs (47.3% of men and 31.6% of women).

 

"When Ireland introduced its smokefree laws, including all service and entertainment industries and most prominently pubs and clubs, the economic boom known as the Celtic Tiger was at its peak. Threats of loss of employment, damage to tourism and loss of taxes, while arguably unfounded and needing refutation were not serious challenges to a confident thriving economy with a “can-do” national attitude. It also meant that the resources necessary to implement the law and auxiliary policies, such as treatment of tobacco dependence, were available.”

 

Professor Greg Connolly of the Harvard School of Public Health and a recognised international expert on tobacco and health said this morning, “Ireland was the first and possibly least likely nation to adopt the world's first clean indoor air law in March 2004. This law protected the health of the most vulnerable of society from lung cancer among healthy exposed non smokers and bar and restaurant employees as well as respiratory illness particularly among children. The law was the central element of the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. Through this law, this small country’s contribution to global health became immeasurable. Irish action affirmed the ability of all nations to do the same despite fierce tobacco industry opposition. More importantly the action made real that all of the articles of the FCTC could be implemented globally.

 

"The roar of the Celtic Tiger was heard in every parliament and Congress throughout the world and was sufficient to counter the false messages of the tobacco industry with science, moral virtue, political leadership and concrete strategies for success. Ireland’s contribution was precise and strategic; it was not simply passing a law. It established clear guidelines for other nations to follow, on how to foster social support, the importance of monitoring compliance with the law once passed, and the need for economic and scientific evaluation of benefits from Clean Indoor Air laws once enacted.”

Dr Kristina Mauer-Stender, World Health Organisation

Dr Kristina Mauer-Stender of the World Health Organisation addressed the symposium and said, “In order to talk about our future vision for tobacco control in Europe, we have to look into the past. What has happened in Europe in tobacco control since the adoption of the first ever international health treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, ten years ago? Are European adults and youth smoking less? Have countries been committed to health and taken bold actions in tobacco control? Who have been leaders we can be proud of and learn from?

 

"In light of the newly adopted global voluntary targets on non-communicable diseases by 2025, what is the vision of Europe in terms of achieving the global target, 30% decrease in tobacco use in 10 years? Are we ready to look beyond tobacco control and start discussing about a Tobacco Free Europe? Key questions are what should be done and how to make the 2025 target a reality in Europe? And is a Tobacco Free Europe inspiring and realistic?”

Professor (Senator) John Crown delivered a paper to the symposium entitled “Politicians, scientists, the Tobacco Industry and the WHO FCTC (Framework Convention for Tobacco Control) Article 5.3".

 

Professor Crown said, “Every day in Ireland, five people get the news that they have incurable fatal lung cancer. In 95% of cases, their illness was caused by smoking. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland and other western countries through numerous cancers, heart disease and stroke. 

 

"Tobacco kills approximately 100 times more Irish people annually than illegal drugs. If it was discovered tomorrow, it would surely be illegal. Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. Most smokers want to quit. But smoking is an addiction.

 

"Tobacco companies must recruit 50 new tobacco addicts daily just to replace the deaths that are caused by their own products. In 80% of cases, these novice smokers are children. Big tobacco will deny the reality that its business plan can be summed up in four words: "addict children to carcinogens".

"Big tobacco wants more people smoking, whereas public health policy is aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating tobacco use. For these reasons, the goals of public health and those of big tobacco are fundamentally incompatible. Their relationship must be perpetually adversarial and unremittingly hostile."

Dr Pat Doorley, Chair of the RCPI Tobacco Policy Group launched the Group's first tobacco policy statement today.

 

In response to the continuing public health consequences associated with tobacco, and building on RCPI’s past work on smoking, the RCPI Policy Group on Tobacco was established in early 2014. The overall aim of the policy group is to influence national tobacco policy and legislation, particularly in support of the Tobacco Free Ireland plan launched by the Minister for Health in 2013.

 

The policy group comprises representatives from a range of medical specialties, from within RCPI’s own Faculties and Institute, and from other external bodies such as the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Thoracic Society and the Psychological Society of Ireland.

 

The group has drafted recommendations informed by their own experience, and a review of international best practice and research. Dr Doorley highlighted trends in smoking prevalence and discuss the group’s recommendations aimed at reducing prevalence further. These recommendations include reference to the support that should be offered to people to quit, and the skills doctors need to provide this support.

 

Legislative and national policy measures to further de-normalise tobacco smoking and to protect children from second hand smoke were also discussed, in addition to standardized packaging and taxation.