IT was dangerous that tobacco companies were telling people to ignore their own doctors, Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) declared in the Seanad yesterday.
Calling for a debate on the latest publicity campaign by the tobacco industry, he said the Philip Morris Company had taken full page advertisements in Irish and British newspapers, suggesting that passive smoking was no more dangerous than eating a biscuit daily.
It was vital that consumers got true information, Mr O'Toole stressed.
The Seanad should congratulate the chief executives of the health boards, who had made it clear that people should not accept information from a tobacco company which was contrary to what they were told by the boards, cancer societies and other acknowledged experts. The tobacco industry was pouring huge amounts of money into a campaign which asserted that there was no danger from other people's smoke. He believed the public was being misled, although he might be wrong on that score.
"We should be fully informed. I am sure the Minister for Health would appreciate the opportunity to come to the House to outline the Government's position and that of all the professionals. We are at a point where tobacco companies are telling people to ignore their doctors, and that is dangerous when we are trying to make people health conscious.
The House leader, Mr Maurice Manning (FG), said Mr O'Toole had raised a very important point relating to alleged misinformation and to conflicting claims. He invited the senator to submit a motion for debate.